121 people killed and hundreds injured in a stampede at Bhole Baba's satsang in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh, India on July 3, 2024.
Approximately 250,000 people attended the event despite authorities permitting only 80,000.
The exact cause of the stampede remains unclear but overcrowding and a lack of proper exit facilities are believed to have contributed significantly to the disaster.
In the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, a tragic event unfolded during a religious gathering known as satsang organized by self-styled preacher Bhole Baba. The incident took place on July 3, 2024, in Hathras district and left at least 121 people dead and hundreds more injured. According to various reports, approximately 250,000 people attended the event despite authorities permitting only 80,000.
The exact cause of the stampede remains unclear; however, it is believed that massive overcrowding and a lack of proper exit facilities contributed significantly to the disaster. Thousands of people thronged exits and many slipped on muddy ground causing them to fall and be crushed in the crowd. Most victims were women.
The tragedy occurred during Bhole Baba's satsang, an event where devotees gather to seek blessings from the preacher. The incident took place amidst sweltering heat, with many attendees rushing towards the stage to touch Bhole Baba as he left. Reports suggest that volunteers struggled to intervene due to the chaotic situation.
The Indian authorities have registered a case against the event's main organizers in response to this tragedy. The central government has announced compensation of $2,400 for families of the deceased and $600 for critically injured individuals.
This stampede is one of the deadliest such incidents in recent Indian history, with many similar events occurring due to lax safety measures and large crowds gathering in small areas. The Hathras tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the importance of proper crowd management and safety protocols during religious gatherings.
At least 121 people died in a stampede at a religious festival in Hathras, India that is not mentioned in other articles
Five people died on Wednesday morning, and 28 were hospitalized which is not mentioned in other articles
Approximately a quarter of a million people turned up for the event, which was permitted for only 80,000 - this number difference is significant and not mentioned in other articles
It's not clear what sparked the panic but volunteers struggled to intervene as the crowd rushed towards preacher Bhole Baba which is not mentioned in other articles
Thousands of people thronged exits and many slipped on muddy ground causing them to fall and be crushed in the crowd which is not mentioned in other articles
Most of those killed were women - this demographic detail is not mentioned in other articles
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article does not clearly state that the author is expressing their own opinions or assertions. However, there are instances of selective reporting and editorializing. The article highlights that 'deadly stampedes are relatively common at Indian religious festivals', implying an increased likelihood of such incidents, but does not link to any peer-reviewed studies or data to support this claim. Additionally, the article quotes experts' opinions on the lack of safety measures without disclosing that they are not speaking as part of a peer-reviewed study. These instances demonstrate a level of deception.
Hathras, India (AP) — Severe overcrowding and a lack of exits contributed to a stampede at a religious festival in northern India...
Deadly stampedes are relatively common at Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas with shoddy infrastructure and few safety measures.
It’s not clear how many made it inside the giant tent set up in a muddy field...
A religious event in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh called satsang, organized by a self-styled preacher named Bhole Baba, resulted in the death of 121 people.
Approximately 250,000 people attended the event, despite authorities giving permission for only 80,000 people to gather.
Accuracy
The number of people who died in the stampede: 121 (article) vs. at least 115 or 121 (other articles)
The cause of the panic: massive overcrowding and lack of exits (article) vs. it's not clear what sparked the panic but volunteers struggled to intervene as the crowd rushed towards the preacher (other articles)
The number of people who attended the event: approximately 250,000 (article) vs. approximately a quarter of a million or 80,000 permitted (other articles)
The demographic of those killed: most were women (article) vs. mostly women and children or mostly women (other articles)
At least 116 people, mostly women and children, were killed in a stampede at a religious event in northern India
Compensation of $2,400 each was announced for families of the deceased and $600 for critically injured individuals
Accuracy
At least 121 people died in a stampede at a religious festival in Hathras, India
Approximately 250,000 people turned up for the event, which was permitted for only 80,000 people to gather.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(95%)
The article does not demonstrate any clear bias towards a specific political, religious, ideological or monetary position. However, the disproportionate number of women and children killed in the stampede is mentioned multiple times and attributed to their smaller size and body weight. This could be seen as an implicit bias towards gender. The article also mentions past incidents of deadly stampedes at religious events in India, which could be seen as a criticism of the Indian government's handling of such events. However, this criticism is not explicitly biased towards any particular political position and is based on facts reported in the article.
At least 116 people, all but one of them women and children, were killed in a stampede at a religious event in northern India
But the government and authorities have not learned from those incidents.
If you are shorter, or have a smaller body weight or size, you are at a higher risk of suffocation
Approximately a quarter of a million people turned up for the event, which was permitted for only 80,000
Thousands of people thronged exits and many slipped on muddy ground causing them to fall and be crushed in the crowd
Most of those killed were women
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article reports on a deadly stampede at a religious festival in India, where severe overcrowding and lack of exits contributed to the chaos. The author quotes local officials and witnesses regarding the cause of the stampede and its aftermath. However, there are instances of selective reporting as some details that could have provided more context or clarification on certain aspects were not included in the article. For example, no information was given about why so many people turned up for the event despite it being permitted to accommodate only 80,000 or what exactly sparked the panic. Additionally, there is a lack of disclosure regarding sources and some parts of the article contain emotional manipulation through descriptions of heart-wrenching screams and wailing relatives.
Experts said the event violated safety norms.
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
In 2013, pilgrims visiting a temple for a popular Hindu festival in central Madhya Pradesh state trampled one another amid fears that a bridge would collapse. At least 115 were crushed to death or died in the river.
It was also not clear what sparked the panic.
Sonu Kumar was one of many local residents who helped lift and move dead bodies after the disaster. He criticized the preacher: 'He sat in his car and left. And his devotees here fell one upon another.'
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(95%)
The article does not demonstrate an overt bias towards any particular political or religious group. However, the author does use language that depicts the crowd as chaotic and out of control, which could be seen as implying a negative stereotype. The author also mentions that 'deadly stampedes are relatively common at Indian religious festivals', which could be perceived as having a disproportionate focus on the negative aspects of these events. Additionally, the author quotes Sonu Kumar criticizing the preacher for leaving the scene after the disaster, which could be seen as an attempt to place blame and potentially biasing readers against him.
deadly stampedes are relatively common at Indian religious festivals
Sonu Kumar criticized the preacher: 'He sat in his car and left. And his devotees here fell one upon another.'
The chaos appeared to continue outside the tent also as followers again ran toward the preacher, a Hindu guru known locally as Bhole Baba, as he left in a vehicle. His security personnel pushed the crowd back, causing more people to fall.
