Horrific Moment in Hathras: 122 Dead as Devotees Stampede to Touch Baba’s Feet
A stampede during Bhole Baba’s satsang in Hathras, UP, resulted in the death of 122 people. The primary cause of the stampede was the rush to collect the dust from Baba’s feet. When Bhole Baba came outside, women started running to collect the dust from his feet. Volunteers used water cannons to control the crowd. People started running in all directions to escape, leading to the stampede, and people began trampling each other.
ADG Zone Agra Anupama Also Comments on Foot Dust
ADG Zone Agra Anupama also mentioned the matter of the foot dust. She said that this issue came up during conversations with the women. However, the entire matter is under investigation.
Bhole Baba’s One-Day Satsang in Fulrai Village, Hathras
Bholenath Baba held a one-day satsang in Fulrai village, Hathras. The timing was from 8 AM to 1 PM. More than a lakh people gathered.
Eyewitness Account at the Satsang Site
An individual at the satsang site told Bhaskar that after the satsang ended, Bhole Baba came outside. Hundreds rushed out to collect the dust from his feet. As people bent down to collect the dust, a stampede ensued. After this, people started climbing over each other to collect the dust. This led to the tragic accident.
Stampede Occurred When They Came onto the Road
Eyewitness Hiralal Singh says, “As soon as the satsang ended, we safely left the site and came onto the road. There was no problem, everyone was walking properly. Suddenly, a crowd gathered. There were also some motorcycles. Women and children could not handle it. My daughter fell on the road and couldn’t get up.”
When Asked What Happened Inside
Hiralal said, “Nothing happened inside. The accident is on the road. We came out safely from inside. There was no problem. We have no idea where the crowd on the road came from.”
Administration Left the Entire Management to Volunteers
There was a crowd of more than a lakh people at the satsang, but the administration left the entire management to Baba’s volunteers. The volunteers could not manage such a large crowd. According to people, the satsang was ongoing in the field. There were pits on the side of the highway. The field was plowed. Due to the water, the mud became slushy, which prevented people from running away.
Five Major Questions After the Accident
- 1.5 lakh people gathered; where were the police and the administration?
- Why was the number of people not considered when granting permission?
- Why was permission given for the event next to the highway?
- Why did the police leave the situation to Baba’s private security personnel?
- Why did local intelligence fail to estimate the crowd?
The Incident of the Stampede
Baba’s convoy departed for Mainpuri from the venue on Tuesday at 1:30 PM. A road was constructed from the side of the stage to the highway for this purpose. The organizers had restrained the crowd near the entrance. Thousands of devotees were standing on the other side of the highway to catch a glimpse of Baba. As soon as the convoy emerged from the highway entrance, people surged forward to see Baba. The convoy moved ahead, and the pressure from the approaching devotees increased on those standing by the highway. As a result, hundreds of devotees ran towards the fields. After this, people started falling on each other, and there were screams. Baba’s attendants rescued those who were trapped, but by then, many people had stopped breathing.
