This is the same region of India that handed our Ivermectin during the Covid crisis, saving hundreds of millions of people and decimating the virus in weeks.
In a tragic incident in Uttar Pradesh, India, a crowd crush during a religious event led to the deaths of 121 individuals, leaving many families in anguish as they continue to search for missing loved ones. The catastrophe occurred at a satsang, a Hindu religious gathering, in Hathras district, organized by a figure known as Bhole Baba.
“Irony died thousand deaths”
‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ wale vaahan me aaj betiyon ki lash ja rahi hai bhed bakriyo ki tarah 😒
हाथरस भगदड़ / Hathras Stampede . Who is accountable?#हाथरसभगदड़#HathrasStampede#HathrasSatsangStampede pic.twitter.com/e50o4BeoJe
— With Love, Bihar (@withLoveBihar) July 3, 2024
Authorities have identified severe overcrowding as the primary cause of the disaster, and a case has been lodged against the organizers for their role in the incident. This tragedy is one of the deadliest of its kind in recent years in India, a country where large gatherings frequently suffer from inadequate safety protocols and crowd management.
The day following the crush, a significant police presence was noted at the site, alongside politicians who came to investigate the sequence of events. Workers were seen dismantling a vast tent and other structures at the venue, located about 500 meters from the main road. Despite the somber task, remnants of the event like scattered clothing and shoes painfully recalled the loss of life.
#HathrasStampede | Investigative lens will be on the Baba, the investigation is underway. If he has done wrong, he will be punished: @AnilaSingh_BJP, BJP
Govt should be alert that suitable arrangements have to be made: @ghanshyamtiwari, SP#Hathras #BrassTacks | @Zakka_Jacob pic.twitter.com/0dWkwVQ6YS
— News18 (@CNNnews18) July 3, 2024
The venue, which was freshly wet from morning rain, featured large puddles that hampered movement. A brick pathway leading to the main stage was cluttered with the belongings of the deceased, underscoring the grim reality of the incident.
According to reports, the majority of the victims and injured were women. An eyewitness shared a harrowing account of the moments leading to the tragedy. He described how attendees, mostly women, rushed towards Bhole Baba’s car to collect soil from beneath its tires, a gesture meant to garner blessings. The rush resulted in many attendees accidentally falling into a nearby drain, causing others to topple over them in a fatal sequence.
The event had been approved for 80,000 attendees, but estimates suggest that as many as 250,000 people showed up. The significant discrepancy between the expected and actual attendance exacerbated the chaos, with inadequate security measures in place to manage the overwhelming crowd.
The aftermath at a nearby hospital in Aligarh was poignant, with dozens of grieving individuals awaiting the return of their loved ones’ remains. One man shared his devastating loss, explaining that his wife had perished in the crush while attending the event with their two children, leaving him to face a drastically altered future.
VIDEO | Hathras stampede: “It’s an unfortunate incident, and I pray to God to give strength to the kin of those who lost their lives in the incident. I met the families members of the deceased. I feel it was negligence that led to this incident,” said Union Minister SP Singh… pic.twitter.com/3Csj3ssAAO
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 3, 2024
The preacher, Bhole Baba, runs an organization known as the Ram Kutir Charitable Trust, which organized the ill-fated event. Despite the tragedy, his popularity in the district remains evident from the numerous posters and billboards bearing his image.
Such tragic incidents at religious events are not new to India. In the past, similar events have led to catastrophic outcomes due to the combination of large crowds and insufficient safety measures, highlighting a recurring issue of crowd management and safety at large gatherings.
Major Points
- A crowd crush at a religious event in Uttar Pradesh, India, resulted in the deaths of 121 people.
- The incident occurred during a satsang organized by a preacher known as Bhole Baba, with overcrowding cited as the main cause.
- Authorities noted a significant discrepancy in expected versus actual attendance, with 250,000 people turning up for an event approved for 80,000.
- The majority of the victims were women, many of whom were trampled while attempting to collect soil from beneath the preacher’s car, a practice believed to bring blessings.
Susan Guglielmo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
