New Delhi: At least 87 people, among whom were women and children, died in a stampede during a religious event in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras on Tuesday.
Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar feared that at least 50 to 60 people had died already. “The injured are being taken to the hospital and more people are being rescued from the scene of the accident,” adding permission had been given to hold the religious event. It was private, he said.
Kumar said the primary focus of the administration was to provide all possible help to the injured and relatives of the deceased, while a high-level committee probes the cause behind the stampede.
Manish Chikara, a district police spokesperson, told Reuters by phone that approximately 60 people had died though there was a possibility that the toll might go up.
Unverified videos on social media showed bodies piled up on the ground outside a local hospital, Reuters reported, though it could not immediately verify the clips.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Etah, Rajesh Kumar Singh said the stampede took place during a “satsang” at the Mughalgarhi village of Hathras. The dead and injured were brought to the Etah Hospital, he said.
An eyewitness, Shakuntala said people rushed towards the exit after the event was over. “The road outside was at a height with a drain below. People fell into the drain, one on top of the other. Those below were crushed. The ‘satsang’ was very crowded,” she added.
VIDEO | Hathras Stampede: “After the ‘satsang’ ended, everyone came out. Outside, the road was built on a height with a drain below. One after the other, people started falling into it. Some people got crushed,” says an eyewitness, Shakuntala.
(Full video available on PTI Videos… pic.twitter.com/I5PpOp827i
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Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his condolences and directed district officials to ensure proper and immediate medical care to the injured. He also ordered an immediate inquiry into the cause behind the accident which will be carried out by the assistant director general of Agra and the Aligarh commissioner.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted this on X, “The incident that happened in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh is extremely painful. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families of those who have lost their loved ones in this. I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is providing all possible help to all the victims.”
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