More than 80 people, including women and children, died in a stampede incident during a religious event in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras region on Tuesday.
The injured people were rushed to hospital in Hathras and neighbouring Etah city.
Speaking to the media soon after the incident, a senior police officer, Rajesh Kumar Singh, told India Today that the stampede took place at a satsang (religious congregation) that was going on in a village in Hathras district.
Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavna Samagam Committee hosted the religious event.
Recalling the horrific incident, an eyewitness told the Indian news channel, “We had come for the satsang. It was a large crowd. Once the satsang ended, we started leaving. The exit was narrow. As we tried to exit towards the field, suddenly, a commotion started, and we didn’t know what to do. Many people have died.”
“After the ‘satsang’ ended, everyone came out. Outside, the road was built at a height with a drain below. One after the other, people started falling into it. Some people got crushed,” said another eyewitness.
President Droupadi Murmu has condoled the loss of lives in the incident.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said a team has been formed to probe the incident.
Expressing sorrow, the CM posed on X: “I have instructed the concerned officials to conduct relief and rescue operations on a war footing and provide proper treatment to the injured.”
During his address in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “I am receiving news of a tragic death in Hathras.”
“I express my condolences to those who have lost their lives in the tragedy. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured people,” he said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and former UP Chief Minister Mayawati also express grief over the tragedy.