Hathras stampede updates: A satsang by a local preacher, Bhole Baba, in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras turned into a tragic site as over 120 people, almost all of them women, were killed in a stampede on Tuesday.

According to officials, the event in Phulrai village, Hathras, was addressed by Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari aka Bhole Baba, who has been active in the region and adjoining districts for 27 years.

The stampede took place at around 3.30 pm. According to an eyewitness, thousands of people were there at the venue and when Baba was leaving, many of them rushed to touch his feet. As they were returning, people slipped and fell over one another as parts of the ground had turned boggy with water overflowing from a nearby drain, India Today reported.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh told news agency PTI that overcrowding was one of the reasons behind the stampede. Singh said the application submitted by the event organisers seeking permission to hold the ‘satsang’ put the number of attendees at 80,000, but the actual number was much higher. A report said nearly 2.5 lakh people turned up for the event.

As the ‘satsang’ concluded, devotees ran behind the vehicle of Baba Narayan Hari to touch his feet. As they were returning, people slipped and fell over one another. It was also learnt that people ran to collect soil from the path where the baba walked, to worship it. As a result, people started bending down and falling.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to visit Hathras on Wednesday. Upon receiving information about the incident, Adityanath on Tuesday said, “Our government will get to the bottom of this incident and give appropriate punishment to the conspirators and those responsible. The state government is investigating this entire incident. We will see whether it is an accident or a conspiracy.”

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences to the families of those who died in the stampede in UP’s Hathras while addressing the Lok Sabha. He said that the authorities are involved in rescue operations. The Prime Minister said that all possible assistance will be provided to the bereaved families and those injured.

After visiting the area, Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh said, “The chief sewadar (working for the preacher) had given an application that around 80,000 people will attend the programme. But many more arrived, breaching the limit. A huge police force was deployed. I am told that people rushed to touch his feet and tried to collect soil (from where he walked), and a stampede took place. Many people fell in a nearby drain,” he said.

Asked if an FIR would be registered against the preacher, Singh said, “Bilkul hogi, ye badi ghatana hai (Certainly, this is a big incident),” Indian Express reported.

Many senior police officials have reached the Hathras stampede site, while others are at his ashram, the Ram Kutir Charitable Trust.

In Hathras, a forensic unit and a dog squad are also at the stampede site. Teams of the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are also present.

At least 121 people, including over 100 women and seven children, were killed in the Hathras stampede. The Uttar Pradesh government said most of the people who died in the stampede have been identified.

A compensation of Rs 2 lakh each has been announced for the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 for the injured.