'Devotees wanted to collect soil from around Bhole Baba's feet': The unfolding of UP's Hathras tragedy

A committee has been formed to investigate the Hathras incident.

A stampede at a religious event in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras on Tuesday led to the death of at least 116 people, including women and children.

There were 72 police personnel deployed at the satsang venue where around 50,000 people had gathered for the religious event.

"At least 116 people died after the stampede broke out in Hathras. Dead bodies have been sent to various places for postmortem. We are trying to give the best possible treatment to the injured. The organisers of the event will be included in the FIR because more than the permitted number of people had come to attend the event," Aligarh Range Inspector General Shalabh Mathur told news agency PTI.

Also read: Over 100 killed as stampede breaks out during 'satsang' in UP's Hathras

Here are the key updates of the incident.

• "It was a satsang meeting of Bhole Baba, a religious preacher. Temporary permission was granted for the gathering at the spot on the border of Etah and Hathras district on Tuesday afternoon," said  IG Shalabh Mathur.

• The stampede occurred as attendees began to exit the small hall through a narrow gate. In the rush to leave, people fell on top of each other, with women and children being the most severely affected. Over 150 people were injured, and numerous fatalities were reported.

• According to Sikandra Rao sub divisional magistrate Ravendra Kumar, the stampede took place when devotees tried to get a glimpse of the Bhole Baba, who conducted the 'satsang', at the end of the event. "They also wanted to collect some soil from around the baba's feet," he told news agency PTI.

• "There was a huge crowd gathered at the spot. It all happened when the satsang ended, and everyone was in haste to leave the enclosure. There was no way out, and everybody fell on each other. When I tried to move out, motorcycles parked outside blocked the way. Many fainted while others died," Jyoti, one survivor, told MoneyControl.

• An FIR will be registered against the organisers of the event, a state government statement said. According to officials, the government has formed a team comprising the Agra additional director general of police and the divisional commissioner of Aligarh to probe the incident.

• There was a lot of screaming and shouting on the spot. People were not even looking at each other. Women and children kept falling. The crowd was running over them. There was no one to save them, said another eyewitness.

• SSP Hathras Rajesh Kumar Singh said more than 15,000 devotees had assembled for the congregation. The small hall and narrow exit were insufficient to accommodate the large crowd.

• In a post on X, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said instructions have been given to officials to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing. State ministers, Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary and Sandeep Singh, have left for the village.

• A team consisting of the additional director general of police Agra and Aligarh Commissioner has been constituted to probe the cause of the incident.

• In a post on X, President Droupadi Murmu said the incident was heart-rending.

• Speaking in Parliament, PM Modi also expressed grief over the unfortunate incident. "I express my condolences to those who lost their lives in this accident. I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. The administration is engaged in relief and rescue work under the supervision of the state government. Senior officials of the central government are in constant touch with the Uttar Pradesh government. I assure everyone through this House that the victims will be helped in every way," said the PM.

• Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi expressed grief over the incident. "I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured. The government and administration are requested to provide every possible treatment to the injured and relief to the affected families," he posted on X.

•  A financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh will be provided to each to the families of those killed in the Hathras accident and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.

• Hathras MP Anoop Pradhan told PTI Videos outside Parliament that this is an extremely unfortunate incident. "I have spoken with our district officer, the district's legislator and the superintendent of police. There is no exact figure yet, but many people have tragically died and many others are injured. They are being treated in nearby hospitals," Pradhan said.

(With inputs from Biswajeet Banerjee)