The death toll in Tuesday's stampede in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras touched 121, of which 108 were women. Seven children were also killed in the deadly incident that happened when thousands congregated at a 'satsang' event held by religious preacher Bhole Baba near Phulrai village in the Sikandrarau area.
Aligarh Zone Inspector General of Police (IG) Shalabh Mathur told reporters that 116 people have died in the stampede incident in Hathras. While most of them are from the Hatras district, many victims were from the nearby Etah too.
The Uttar Pradesh government said the majority of the bodies of those who died in the stampede have been identified. The bodies have been kept at the government hospital in Hatras.
What caused the tragedy?
Authorities said the tragedy was caused due to overcrowding. Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, who visited the site with state DGP Prashant Kumar, said devotees were running after the vehicle of Baba Narayan Hari, aka Bhole Baba, as he left the venue after the 'satsang'. "Some bent down to collect soil from the venue and fell," Singh said.
"There was a race among people running after his (Bhole Baba's) vehicle. People collect soil from there (the path where the baba walked) and worship it. As a result, people started bending down and fell," Singh told PTI.
Authorities added that though the organisers had sought permission for 80,000 people to attend the 'satsang', but the actual number was much higher. "There has been a lapse on the part of the event organisers," he said.
DGP Kumar said it was the sub-divisional magistrate who gave permission for the 'satsang' and it is being probed whether the organisers complied with all conditions. "An FIR is being registered and action will be taken against all culprits. As far as (the possibility of any) administrative lapses is concerned, it will be thoroughly investigated by the ADG (Agra Zone) and divisional commissioner (of Aligarh). The government will take action based on their report that will come in 24 hours," he said.
The police are also searching for Bhole Baba. On whether he would be charged and arrested, the DGP said the ambit of the investigation is open.
"Right now, everything is a matter of investigation. We do not want to influence the investigation by drawing any immediate conclusion. The ambit of the investigation is open. Action will be taken based on the facts that come to light during the investigation," he said.
However, police said they are yet to locate Bhole Baba as he was not inside the campus of Ram Kutir Charitable Trust at Mainpuri. "We did not find Baba inside the campus. He is not here," Deputy SP Sunil Kumar told reporters.
CM to visit Hathras today
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to visit Hathras on Wednesday. According to a senior government official, the chief minister is taking stock of the situation around the clock.
The government had constituted a team consisting of ADG Agra and Aligarh Divisional Commissioner to inquire into the cause of the incident. The report is to be submitted within 24 hours, the government said in a statement.
Adityanath met with senior officials at his residence on Tuesday and sent ministers Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary, Asim Arun and Sandeep Singh to the spot. The CM also vowed to punish the people responsible and the probe will focus on whether it was an accident or a conspiracy.
"This incident took place in Sikandrarao of Hathras district between 3 pm and 3.30 pm. The event of Bhole Baba was organised in the village and the local devotees were participating in it. When the preacher of the satsang was coming down from the stage after the programme was over, a crowd of devotees went towards him. As the sevadars stopped them, there was a stampede," he said in a statement.