LUCKNOW, July 2: At least 116 people were killed and 18 others injured in a stampede during Satsang in Sikandra Rao area of Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, a senior officer said here.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognisance of the incident and directed the senior officials to reach the spot and launch a rescue operation. A high level inquiry has also been ordered.
Divisional Commissioner, Aligarh Chaitra V said, “According to information received so far death of 116 people is confirmed and 18 others are injured. The injured have been sent to the divisional headquarters in Aligarh for higher treatment.”
She said that further action would be taken after the preliminary inquiry. “The organisers had taken permission from the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and the police,” she said.
ADG Agra Anupam Kulshretha said that the incident took place in the Phulgarhi area of Hathras district where satsang of Bhole Baba was being held in which a large number of women were participating. “There was stampede all of a sudden after the Satsang ended during which the women felt suffocated,” she said.
She said that the priority of the administration is that those under treatment should get proper medical attention. “Identification of the deceased devotees is being done for which photography is being done so that we can connect to their families,” she said.
The ADG said, “Our sympathies are with the bereaved families. According to the officials sources there is confirmed death toll of 50 to 60 people in Hathras and 15 are undergoing treatment. In Etah district around 27 people are aid to be dead and three are undergoing treatment.”
She said that how the incident took place is a matter of investigation. “A control room has been set up and helpline numbers have been issued,” she said.
Earlier, District Magistrate (DM) Hathras Ashish Kumar Patel said the incident took place due to high humidity when the people were coming out as the religious event was about to end. “Though the exact number of deceased is not clear, but according to the information given by the doctors of the community health centre the figure is around 50 to 60 people,” he said.
He said the permission for the satsang was granted by the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM). “It was a private event in which personnel were deployed for law and order and security. Right now the focus of the district administration is to provide government assistance to the families of the deceased and treatment to the injured,” he said.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Etah Rajesh Kumar Singh said 27 bodies have been received at Etah hospital. “These include 23 females, 3 children and 1 male. It is an unfortunate incident,” he said.
Expressing his condolences to the bereaved families, Yogi announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
He ordered Ministers Aseem Arun, Laxmi Narain Chaudhary, and Sandeep Singh along with the Chief Secretary and the Director General of the Police (DGP) to rush to the spot.
He also directed the district administration officials to reach the spot immediately take the injured to the hospital and provide them with proper treatment. He has also wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Meanwhile, a team of Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Agra and Divisional Commissioner Aligarh has been constituted to inquire into the cause of the stampede.
The committee has been directed to submit its report within 24 hours. The administration has also decided to lodge an FIR against the organisers.
CM Yogi is continuously holding meetings with senior officials at his official residence. He has directed that anyone found guilty in the incident will face strict action and will not be spared. Meanwhile, the district administration has issued helpline numbers 05722227041 and 05722227042 for the assistance of the general public.
