Recently, a religious festival in northern India turned into a scene of chaos and tragedy as a crowd crush resulted in the deaths of at least 121 people, predominantly women, with 35 others sustaining injuries. The incident occurred at a sermon in Mughal Garhi village in Uttar Pradesh, where overcrowding led to the fatal crush. Authorities revealed that a quarter of a million attendees, far exceeding expectations, gathered at the venue, which was only staffed by a few dozen police officers.
The crush unfolded as female devotees surged towards the stage to touch the feet of Bhole Baba, the self-proclaimed godman leading the event. Eyewitnesses described the harrowing aftermath, with one security guard lamenting the loss of his mother and highlighting the negligence that contributed to the tragedy.
Survivors recounted the frantic moments after the preaching ended, with victims being trampled by the crowd as they fell. The lack of proper crowd control and safety measures became evident as families searched for their loved ones amidst the chaos.
Following the incident, Uttar Pradesh authorities launched a special investigative team to probe the deadly crush, with a judicial inquiry also set to take place. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pointed fingers at the organizers, emphasizing their responsibility for ensuring devotees' security during such events.
Police have been pursuing Bhole Baba, the event's leader, and have leveled serious accusations against the organizers, including culpable homicide and evidence tampering. Despite offering condolences to the victims' families, Bhole Baba attributed the tragedy to 'anti-social elements.'
Notably, crowd crushes at religious gatherings in India have been a recurring issue, underscoring the urgent need for improved crowd management protocols and safety precautions to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.
