Hathras Horror: Yogi says accident happened as aides stopped people from rushing towards baba; judicial probe ordered

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath

A day after the stampede incident in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras which claimed 121 lives, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath reached the district to meet the victims and their families.

"We have formed an SIT, led by ADG Agra. It has submitted a preliminary report. They have been told to investigate this deeply. There are several angles that need to be investigated," said Adityanath addressing a press conference.

He further said that the state government has decided to have a judicial inquiry as well which will be led by a retired High Court judge. Retired senior officials of the administration and police will also be a part of it.

According to him, of the 121 deceased, six were from other states including Haryana, MP and Rajasthan. 31 injured people are undergoing treatment and almost everyone is out of danger, the chief minister informed.

"I had a conversation with several eyewitnesses and they informed me that the incident took place after the program was over when the preacher of the 'satsang' was coming down from the stage, suddenly a crowd of devotees started going towards him to touch him and when the 'sevadars' stopped them, this accident happened there. The administration was not allowed by the 'sevadars' to enter inside," he said.

His remarks came after the state police registered an FIR against the organisers, accusing them of hiding evidence and flouting conditions with 2.5 lakh people crammed into a venue in which only 80,000 were permitted.

However, the congregation or 'satsang' conductor Jagat Guru Saakar Vishwahari's name does not figure in the list of accused in the FIR though his name is in the complaint.

"The minor children of the innocent people who became victims of this incident, who are school students, will be facilitated in their education under Uttar Pradesh Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana. Families of each deceased are being given ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh and Rs 1 lakh will be given to those who sustained minor injuries," said Yogi.

On Wednesday, a plea was filed in the Supreme Court seeking appointment of a five-member expert committee under the supervision of a retired apex court judge to probe the deadly incident.