At least 60 lives were tragically lost and scores more injured during a stampede at a religious gathering in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh.
The incident unfolded swiftly on Tuesday evening following the conclusion of an event featuring spiritual leader Bhole Baba, located approximately 200km southeast of New Delhi.
Authorities, grappling with the aftermath, have confirmed that the stampede occurred as thousands of attendees hurriedly dispersed from the venue. Initial reports indicated that the event had drawn over 15,000 participants, despite being permitted for only 5,000, exacerbating concerns over overcrowding.
Eyewitness accounts painted a harrowing picture of chaos and desperation as panicked individuals struggled to navigate through the surging crowd.
Jyoti, a survivor who recounted the ordeal to local media, described a frantic scene where people fell upon each other with no escape route in sight.
Videos circulating on social media, though unverified, depicted a grim scene of bodies strewn outside local hospitals where the injured were rushed for treatment. The district administration, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's directives, has launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading up to the tragedy.
Stampedes and deadly accidents at religious gatherings are unfortunately not uncommon in India, often attributed to inadequate crowd control measures during major festivals and events.
