Hathras, Uttar Pradesh – Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday morning, visited the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic stampede at a religious congregation in Hathras. Gandhi held the administration accountable for the incident and urged for immediate and substantial compensation for the victims' families.
The stampede at a religious congregation in Hathras has resulted in the deaths of at least 121 people, with many more injured. The event, organized by the self-proclaimed godman Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Saakar Hari, on July 2, has sparked widespread outrage and demands for accountability.
Eyewitnesses report that chaos ensued when large numbers of devotees rushed to touch Bhole Baba’s feet and collect dust from his car’s tire tracks as he left the venue. This led to a deadly crush, as people trampled over one another in the frenzied crowd.
The organizers had been granted permission for 80,000 attendees; however, the actual number swelled to over 2.5 lakh, triple the approved capacity. This gross mismanagement has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters.
This is not the first time Bhole Baba’s events have faced safety issues. In January 2020, a similar satsang in Shahjahanpur witnessed a stampede after a fire broke out during prasad distribution, though a major disaster was averted thanks to the quick response of fire rescue teams.
Before assuming his role of a spiritual leader, Bhole Baba was a constable with the Uttar Pradesh Police. A case has been filed against the organizers of the event, under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence), however Bhole Baba has not been mentioned in the FIR.
Authorities have accused the organizers of tampering with evidence, underreporting the number of attendees, and failing to cooperate with traffic management efforts.
This has intensified calls for strict action against those responsible for the tragedy.
In light of the incident, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued two helpline numbers—05722227041 and 05722227042—to assist survivors and their families.
Stampedes at religious gatherings in India are a recurring problem. In January 2022, a stampede at the Vaishno Devi temple resulted in 12 deaths, while a 2013 stampede at the Ratangarh temple in Madhya Pradesh during Navratri celebrations claimed over 115 lives.
The Hathras stampede has once again highlighted the urgent need for better crowd management and safety measures at large gatherings. As the demand for accountability grows, the focus remains on ensuring justice for the victims and preventing future tragedies.
Key decision-makers, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, UP Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, Director General of UP Police Prashant Kumar IPS, and Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar IAS, are being urged to take immediate and stringent action. The demands include:
Holding the organizers accountable for the mishandling of the event.
Arresting Bhole Baba, who is currently absconding.
Enforcing SOPs for large events to ensure such incidents do not recur.
Implementing effective public address systems to manage crowds and counter rumors.
On Friday morning, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, visited the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic stampede at a religious congregation in Hathras. Gandhi held the administration accountable for the incident and urged for immediate and substantial compensation for the victims' families.
During his visit, Gandhi expressed his condolences and underscored the urgent need for addressing the administrative lapses that led to the disaster. He appealed directly to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ensure that the compensation process is expedited and that the families receive the support they need during this difficult time.
"It is very tragic. Many families have lost a lot. Many have died. I don’t want to say anything through a political prism. But, there are shortcomings of the administration and there have been some mistakes. It should be found out. The most important thing is that the right compensation should be given. They are poor families, and it is a very tough time for them. They should get maximum compensation. I request the Uttar Pradesh chief minister that compensation should be given wholeheartedly,” Gandhi stated.
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