The aftermath of the devastating incident at a Hindu religious festival in Uttar Pradesh continues as families of the victims struggle to find closure.
The event, organized by self-styled preacher Bhole Baba, turned fatal when overcrowding led to a crushing incident that claimed the lives of 121 people.
Authorities have attributed the tragedy to massive overcrowding at the venue in Hathras district, prompting police to file a case against the main organizers of the satsang.
This incident ranks among India’s worst crowd-related tragedies in recent years, where lapses in safety measures and crowd management are often blamed for such accidents.
Following the incident, political figures visited the site under heavy police presence to assess the situation.
Cleanup efforts were underway, with workers removing the large tent and dealing with remnants like clothes and shoes left behind by the victims, stark reminders of the tragedy that unfolded.
Yogesh Yadav, a local resident who witnessed the chaos, described the scene after the prayer meeting when devotees sought blessings by collecting soil from underneath Bhole Baba’s departing car.
“Some crossed the highway for a better view, leading to a chaotic situation where many fell into drains or were crushed,” he recounted.
According to the police’s first information report (FIR), authorities had permitted a gathering of 80,000 people, but approximately 250,000 attendees showed up.
Eyewitnesses highlighted inadequate security and crowd control measures as contributing factors.
At Aligarh’s main hospital, grieving families awaited the bodies of their loved ones. Hridesh Kumar, who lost his wife in the crush, lamented, “How will I look after my children without her? My whole life has turned upside down.”
The preacher, known locally but not widely, operates the Ram Kutir Charitable Trust, which organized the ill-fated event.
His popularity in the district was evident from numerous posters and billboards seen along the route to the accident site.
Accidents at religious events are unfortunately common in India, where large crowds gather in confined spaces with minimal safety provisions.
Past incidents include a tragic train collision during a Dusshera celebration in 2018 and a deadly crush at a Hindu festival in Madhya Pradesh in 2013 that claimed many lives.
Source-BBC
