From Hathras satsang to Nashik’s Kumbh Mela: The worst stampede tragedies in India

In Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras, a religious gathering known as a “satsang” turned tragic on Tuesday when a stampede left roughly 121 people dead and 28 injured.

The incident occurred near Phulrai village for a religious gathering led by Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari, a self-proclaimed godman.

Victims, dead or unconscious, were brought to the Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre in trucks and other vehicles. Inside a government hospital, the bodies were resting on slabs of ice while grieving relatives awaited the return of the mortal remains.

A forensic unit, a dog squad along with teams of the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are at the stampede site.

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Among the victims, about 100 were women and seven were children. Of the total fatalities, 19 are yet to be identified, the Office of the Relief Commissioner said, as per News18.

The state government said an FIR will be registered against the organisers of the programme. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to visit the site today.

A team consisting of ADG Agra and Aligarh Divisional Commissioner has been constituted to inquire into the cause of the incident and submitted a report within 24 hours, reported India Today.

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The police claim that, prima facie, it seems as though the worst such tragedy in recent years caused discomfort for the devotees due to suffocation at the venue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound sorrow over the stampede incident and announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for the next of kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

The government released helpline numbers from different cities for those enquiring about their family members:

• Agra Zone Control - 7839866849

• Aligarh Range Control - 7839855724

• Agra Range Control - 7839855724

• Hathras Control - 9454417377

• Etah Control - 9454417438

• Aligarh Control - 7007459568

Well, this isn’t the first time that such a disaster has claimed numerous lives.

Here’s a quick look at similar tragedies in India: