Hathras, Uttar Pradesh – A devastating stampede in Hathras has left 121 people dead and 28 injured after a frenzied rush for dust stirred up by the car of a self-styled godman. The tragedy unfolded during a ‘satsang’ gathering addressed by Suraj Pal, also known as Narayan Saakar Hari, or Bhole Baba to his followers.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the event organizers had initially sought permission for a crowd of 80,000. However, over 250,000 people turned up, overwhelming the inadequate police force and the organizers’ lax preparations.
The incident occurred as the godman was leaving the event. His followers scrambled to collect dust from his car’s tires, leading to chaos. The godman’s private security guards began pushing people back, causing many to fall and be trampled. The subdivisional magistrate’s report indicated that the resulting chaos led to people fleeing towards an open field, where they slipped and were run over by others trying to escape.
The FIR also notes that Suraj Pal’s aides, known as sevadars, were carrying sticks and used them to keep the crowd away, which further contributed to the stampede. Eyewitnesses reported that only about 40 police personnel were present to manage the massive crowd, and they were quickly overwhelmed.
Despite the scale of the disaster, no arrests have been made yet. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has assured that a thorough investigation will be conducted. “Our government will get to the bottom of this incident and give appropriate punishment to the conspirators and those responsible,” he said.
The FIR has named Devprakash Madhukar, the main organizer of the event, along with other unidentified individuals, but the self-styled godman himself has not been named as an accused and is currently missing. The report accuses the organizers of concealing the expected number of attendees and failing to meet traffic management conditions, which led to the stampede. There are also allegations that attempts were made to dispose of key evidence, including clothes and footwear of the victims.
Former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has called for a thorough investigation to prevent such tragedies in the future. “A thorough probe and action can stop a recurrence of such mishaps,” he said.
State police chief Prashant Kumar stated that the investigation is ongoing and that no immediate conclusions would be drawn. “Action will be taken based on the facts that come to light during the investigation,” he said.
As the community mourns the tragic loss of life, questions remain about the safety measures and the accountability of those who organized and managed the event.
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