International Desk

At least 116 people, most of them women, died in a stampede at a religious event at a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district today, officials said.

Aligarh range Inspector General of Police Shalabh Mathur said 116 people have so far perished in the incident at Ratibhanpur village under Sikandra Rao police station limits in Hathras.

A police officer said an estimated 15,000 people were at the event today. “We do not know the exact cause of the stampede but a majority of deaths were a result of suffocation,” he added.

Kumar said it was a private event and permission had been given by the sub-divisional magistrate. Security arrangements were made by the administration but the other arrangements were supposed to be made by the organizers.

The Uttar Pradesh government said more devotees were present at the ‘satsang’ than permitted by the administration.

“The number of attendees exceeded the administration’s permitted limit at the venue, leading to a stampede during religious preacher Bhole Baba’s satsang (religious gathering),” a statement released by the state government said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the family of the deceased.

The Chief Minister also formed a team, including the Additional Director General of Police in and the Aligarh Police Commissioner, to probe the causes of the tragedy.

According to officials, the religious congregation was being addressed by the religious preacher and his wife when the stampede took place.

“A temporary permission was granted for the gathering at the spot situated on the border of Etah and Hathras districts,” said Mathur.

Rajesh Kumar, Senior Superintendent of Police, Etah, said, “The strength of the medical college to accommodate patients has been exhausted and we have asked private hospitals to spare beds for stampede victims. The relief and rescue measures are underway on a war footing.”

According to one of the survivors, the stampede took place when the religious event ended and the people rushed out to leave the place.

“There was a huge crowd gathered of followers at the spot. There was no way out and everybody fell on each other and a stampede took place. When I tried to move out, there were motorcycles parked outside, which blocked my way. Many fainted while others died,” a victim, who was admitted to a nearby hospital, told TV channels.