Officials in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, have reported that a stampede during a religious ceremony on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of at least 27 persons, including three women and three children.
The rush happened at a “satsang,” or gathering for prayer. Images from the Community Health Center showed a number of bodies being transported there in busses and tempos while sobbing family members watched.
A committee has been formed to look into the occurrence at the request of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has taken notice of it.
“Of the 27 bodies we have received, two are male and 25 are female. Hospitals have also received several injured patients. We don’t have many additional specifics, but we have heard that there was a stampede during a “satsang,” said Dr. Umesh Kumar Tripathi, Chief Medical Officer of Etah.
Three children were among the dead in the stampede that started in a hamlet inside the boundaries of the Sikandra Rao police station in Hathras, according to Senior Superintendent of Police for Etah, Rajesh Kumar.
“So far, 27 bodies have been sent to the hospital, of which 23 are women and three are children,” added Mr. Kumar.
The’satsang’ was held in honor of a local guru, according to a lady who attended, and when the attendees started to disperse, a rush started.
The Director General of Police has been dispatched to the area, along with two state ministers, Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary and Sandeep Singh.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered the formation of a committee to look into the event and has offered his sympathies to the families of the deceased. The Aligarh Commissioner and the Additional Director General of Police (Agra) have established the panel and will serve as its leaders.
