STORY: A stampede at a Hindu religious event in northern India on Tuesday (July 2) has resulted in scores of deaths and more than two dozen people injured, according to news agency ANI.
A police report seen by Reuters said that the number of people present was more than triple the permitted capacity.
The tragedy took place at a village in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh state – where a quarter of a million people attended an event that only had permission for 80,000.
Most of the dead were women along with several children, according to state officials.
Kamala says she lost her daughter in the disaster:
“My daughter was alright when she arrived at the hospital. In fact, my daughter served water to other victims, helped them and called my brother informing us that she had made it to the hospital safely. But by the time my brother reached the hospital, my daughter was dead.”
The police report also described a scene of utter chaos when the preacher of the congregation at the event – known as ‘Bhole Baba’ was leaving his car.
The report goes on to say thousands of devotees shouted and ran towards the car, crushing others still sitting in the gathering, some people also fell into a nearby field of slush and mud and were trampled there.
Local media said the event was organized by a group of devotees, but did not identify anyone.
ANI news agency, in which Reuters has a minority stake, said police were trying to determine the whereabouts of the preacher.
Police officials in Hathras were not immediately available for comment.
Source Agencies
