Hathras Tragedy: A stampede that broke out at a large religious gathering in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, turned deadly, killing 121 people. A lot of concerns remain unanswered and significant shortcomings in crowd control have been revealed by the tragedy, which happened at a “satsang” led by the self-styled godman Bhole Baba.
Overwhelming Crowd and Insufficient Arrangements
The organisers of the’satsang’ had originally applied for permission to host 80,000 people, but in reality, almost 2.5 lakh people attended. Chaos ensued as a result of the large crowd overpowering the infrastructure and security measures.
Panic Triggered by Security Guards
The critical moment came after the satsang concluded. Devotees rushed to collect the dust stirred up by Bhole Baba’s departing car, and the situation worsened when his private security guards tried to control the crowd. Their actions inadvertently sparked panic, leading to a stampede where individuals were trampled and suffocated amidst the chaos.
Bhole Baba’s Controversial Past
Suraj Pal, alias Bhole Baba, has a controversial history. Despite facing multiple legal issues, including allegations of sexual assault, he continues to command a significant following. His past includes a stint in the police force and imprisonment in 1997 for sexual assault. After his release, he rebranded himself as ‘Saakar Vishwa Hari Baba’ and attracted devotees to his ashram in his ancestral village.
FIR Highlights Organizers’ Negligence
The FIR lodged after the incident points to gross negligence on the part of the organizers. They are accused of underreporting the expected attendance and failing to implement proper traffic and crowd management protocols. These oversights directly contributed to the stampede, demonstrating a reckless disregard for public safety. Allegations also include attempts to tamper with evidence, such as disposing of victims’ clothing and footwear, complicating the investigation further.
Official Response and Inquiry
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site and announced a judicial inquiry into the incident, to be conducted by a retired High Court judge. He stated, “The state government has decided that a judicial inquiry will be conducted into the unfortunate incident of Hathras district.”
Both the central and state governments have announced financial assistance for the victims. CM Adityanath added, “We will arrange for the education of the minor children of the innocent people who became victims of the accident through the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Bal Seva Yojana.”
Inadequate Policing and Systemic Failures
The response by local law enforcement was severely lacking, with only about 40 police personnel deployed to manage the enormous gathering. When the stampede erupted, they were overwhelmed and unable to prevent the tragic loss of life. This failure highlights systemic issues in police preparedness and response protocols during large-scale events.
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