3-7-2024 (NEW DELHI) A massive stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh has claimed the lives of 116 people, marking the deadliest such event in over a decade. The catastrophe unfolded on Tuesday at an overcrowded open-air venue, leaving survivors traumatised and officials scrambling to investigate the cause.
According to police reports, the event drew a staggering 250,000 attendees, far surpassing the permitted capacity of 80,000. The aftermath of the tragedy was evident on Wednesday morning, with discarded clothing and lost footwear strewn across the muddy field adjacent to a highway.
Eyewitnesses recounted the horrifying moments when people began tumbling down a slope into a water-logged ditch, creating a deadly pile-up. Police officer Sheela Maurya, who was on duty during the event, described the chaotic scene: “The entire crowd, including women and children, attempted to exit simultaneously. There simply wasn’t enough space, resulting in people falling atop one another.”
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the trigger for the stampede. Some officials suggest it began when worshippers rushed to collect soil from the footsteps of a popular Hindu preacher, while others point to a dust storm causing panic among the crowd.
Maurya, who was among the injured, shared her harrowing experience: “I tried to assist some women, but I too fainted and was crushed under the crowd. Someone pulled me out, but my memory of the event is hazy.”
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers associated with mass religious gatherings in India. Hori Lal, a local resident, observed, “The main highway was congested with people and vehicles for kilometres. There were far too many people present.”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh reported that the majority of the victims were women, with seven children and one man also among the deceased. The tragedy has prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce compensation for the victims’ families and the injured.
❗???????????? – Over 100 people, predominantly women and children, perished in a stampede at a crowded religious gathering in northern India on Tuesday.
The oppressive heat, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity at 77%, is suspected to have played a role in the… pic.twitter.com/3yXriJoea3
— ????????The Informant (@theinformant_x) July 2, 2024
As dawn broke on Wednesday, grieving relatives searched hospitals for their missing loved ones. Ram Nivas, a farmer looking for his sister-in-law, expressed his desperation: “We’ve searched everywhere. We’re clinging to hope that she’s still alive, perhaps just lost.”
The incident has sparked calls for improved safety measures at religious gatherings. President Droupadi Murmu described the deaths as “heart-rending” and offered her condolences. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered an investigation into the tragedy.
