Nearly a hundred people lost their lives in a tragic stampede during a Hindu religious gathering in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district, located about 200 km southeast of New Delhi, according to a senior government official on Tuesday.
Chaitra V, the divisional commissioner of Aligarh city, confirmed the death toll at 97, emphasizing efforts to provide relief and medical aid to the injured. The incident occurred when a large crowd had assembled in response to a local religious leader’s call on open ground in the village.
Initial reports from district authorities and police spokespersons varied slightly, with figures suggesting around 60 fatalities, though this number may increase. Social media footage showed distressing scenes of bodies outside a local hospital, though the authenticity of these images could not be immediately verified by Reuters.
Authorities attributed the stampede to overcrowding as people attempted to leave the venue through a narrow exit, sparking panic among attendees. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh has ordered a thorough investigation and instructed officials to expedite relief and rescue operations while ensuring proper treatment for the injured.
Tragically, such incidents are not uncommon at religious gatherings in India, with previous major accidents including a deadly explosion in 2016 during a Hindu new year celebration in Kerala, claiming 112 lives, and a stampede in Madhya Pradesh in 2013 that killed 115 people near a temple bridge due to fears it might collapse.
