In a devastating incident in Mughal Garhi village, Uttar Pradesh, India, a stampede at a religious gathering led by self-styled godman Bhole Baba resulted in the deaths of over 100 people, mostly women and children. The event, a prayer meeting known as a satsang, saw an unexpected turnout of around 250,000 attendees, far exceeding the anticipated 80,000.
Tragic Stampede- Incident Details
The stampede occurred when a large number of devotees surged forward to touch Bhole Baba’s feet after the event concluded, leading to chaos and a deadly crush. Many victims fell into an open sewer next to the venue, compounding the tragedy. Reports indicate that 121 people were killed and 35 others injured.
Investigation and Accountability
Authorities are investigating the organizers for their role in the disaster. A police report has accused them of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, among other charges. The report highlights that the organizers provided no assistance to the injured and attempted to cover up the incident by hiding the clothes and shoes lost in the crush.
Official Responses
Local officials have acknowledged overcrowding as the primary cause of the tragedy. Sandeep Singh, the Minister of State for Education, noted that only 40 police officers were deployed to manage the massive crowd. A high-level inquiry has been launched to determine the exact circumstances and assign accountability. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and assured that relief and rescue efforts are underway.
Eyewitness Accounts
Survivors described the harrowing scenes of people falling on top of each other and the desperate attempts to rescue those trapped. Shakuntala Devi, a witness, recounted the panic and chaos that ensued as the crowd surged forward.
Historical Context
This tragic event adds to the list of deadly crowd crushes in India, which have often highlighted the country’s challenges with crowd control and safety measures at large gatherings. Previous incidents include the New Year’s crush at a holy shrine in Jammu in 2022 and the 2008 stampede at a hilltop religious event in western India.
Moving Forward
Authorities are focusing on providing medical care to the injured and conducting post-mortem examinations. The incident underscores the urgent need for better crowd management and safety protocols at large public events in India to prevent such tragedies in the future.
