A tragic incident unfolded at a religious gathering in northern India, resulting in the deaths of over a hundred individuals, predominantly women and children. The calamity occurred during a prayer meeting, known as a satsang, in Mughal Garhi village in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state. The village, located in Hathras district, witnessed a devastating crush as a large number of attendees rushed to touch the feet of Bhole Baba, the self-styled godman leading the event.
Authorities reported that at least 116 people, including 108 women and seven children, lost their lives in the chaos. The event, which was expected to host around 80,000 individuals, saw an overwhelming turnout of more than 250,000 devotees. Insufficient crowd management measures and overcrowding were cited as primary factors contributing to the tragic incident.
Police have launched an investigation into the event organizers, with accusations of culpable homicide, wrongful restraint, and other charges. The organizers allegedly failed to adhere to the permitted attendance levels and neglected to provide adequate assistance to the injured. Reports indicate that the organizers attempted to conceal evidence of the incident by disposing of lost belongings in a nearby field.
Survivors recounted harrowing experiences of people falling on top of each other and into an open sewer adjacent to the venue. Efforts are underway to provide medical care to the injured and conduct post-mortem examinations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences and assured that relief and rescue operations are being carried out in coordination with the state government.
Tragic incidents of crowd crushes at religious gatherings are not uncommon in India, underscoring the need for improved crowd control and safety measures. Past incidents, including a deadly crush at a holy shrine in Jammu earlier this year and previous tragedies in western India, have highlighted the urgency of addressing crowd management issues to prevent such devastating occurrences in the future.
