Stampede after Satsang in UP's Hathras kills at least 87

A stampede broke out in Ratibhanpur of Hathras today, killing at least 87 people and inuring over 100 after a Bhole Baba ‘Satsang’, a prayer meeting. The meeting was reportedly organised by a religious leader named Narayan Sarkar in the Sikandrarau area of Hathras and was attended by 10,000 people, most of these were women.

Extending condolences to the bereaved families for the loss of life in the unfortunate accident, UP CM Yogi Adityanath informed using the social media platform X: “Instructions have been given to the concerned officials to conduct relief and rescue operations on war footing and to provide proper treatment to the injured.”

UP cabinet ministers Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary and Sandeep Singh, the Chief Secretary and State Director General of Police will visit the incident site, the CM posted on his profile.

“A team has been formed under the leadership of ADG, Agra and Commissioner, Aligarh and instructions have also been given to investigate the causes of the accident,” the post added.

Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar shared the injured were taken to the hospital. This was a private event, permission for which was given by the SDM.

Statements by the on-ground eyewitnesses claim the outside road was built on an elevation, with a drain below where people started falling one after the other.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on his social media handle, "I am deeply saddened by the tragic accident in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh. I express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. May God give them strength to bear this pain. The local administration is engaged in relief work. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured."

Videos from the spot across the internet have surfaced of several dead and fainted bodies lying outside the post-mortem house in Etah on the ground, with the bereaved families crying for help.

"In Etah Hospital, 27 bodies have been brought, out of which 23 are women, three are children and one is a man. As of now, no injured people have been brought. This is a very unfortunate incident. May their souls rest in peace," said Etah Senior Superintendent Of Police Rajesh earlier after the initial investigation of the matter.