More than 100 killed in crush at India religious event

At least 116 people have tragically lost their lives in a crush at a religious gathering in northern India, according to police inspector Gen Shalabh Mathur. The incident occurred during a satsang, a Hindu religious event, in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh state. The victims, many of whom were women and children, are still being identified. Survivors recounted the chaos that ensued as they attempted to leave the event in Mughalgarhi village. The exact cause of the crush remains unclear. Witnesses reported that the exit was too narrow, and a sudden dust storm led to confusion and panic, causing many to be trampled. An anonymous eyewitness told the BBC that everything seemed fine until they heard screams and saw people falling on each other. 'Many were crushed, and I couldn't do much. I am just lucky to have survived,' the eyewitness said. Shakuntala, a woman who attended the event, told the Press Trust of India news agency that people fell into a drain by the road and were crushed to death. Umesh Kumar Tripathi, the chief medical officer from the neighboring district of Etah, reported that the stampede left at least three children dead. A spokesperson for a senior police officer in Uttar Pradesh stated that it would take hours to release the final tally of casualties. Distressing images from the scene have been circulating online, showing the injured being transported to hospitals in pick-up trucks, tuk tuks, and even motorbikes. One video seen by the BBC depicted several bodies left at the entrance of a local hospital as relatives screamed for help. 'Such a huge accident has happened, but not a single senior officer is present here,' a relative said in another video. 'Where is the administration? ' Mr. Kumar noted that the venue was overcrowded and that a high-level committee had been formed to investigate the incident. 'The primary focus of the administration is to provide all possible help to the injured and the families of the deceased,' he said. A video shared by the news agency PTI showed the wounded being brought to a hospital for treatment. Satya Prakash, an official from the neighboring district of Etah, stated that the post-mortem procedure was underway and that the matter was being investigated. In Hathras, the screams of distraught family members could be heard in the local hospital. Many people are desperately trying to locate their loved ones, and many bodies remain unclaimed. There is a shortage of ambulances, with each one transporting two to three bodies. The atmosphere in Hathras is one of despair and pain. Accidents at religious events in India are not uncommon, as large crowds gather in confined spaces with little regard for safety measures. In 2018, around 60 people were killed when a train ran into a crowd watching celebrations for Dusshera, a Hindu festival. In 2013, a crush at a Hindu festival in Madhya Pradesh resulted in the deaths of 115 people.