Deadly stampede in India kills at least 121
1. 108 women, seven children among dead at Hindu religious congregation stampede
A tragic stampede at a Hindu religious congregation in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh, India, has resulted in 121 fatalities, including 108 women and seven children. The incident occurred on Tuesday in a village about 200 km southeast of New Delhi. Despite the government's permission for 80,000 attendees, around 250,000 people crowded the event.
The stampede happened when the religious preacher, known as 'Bhole Baba', was leaving in his car. Devotees rushed behind the car, causing chaos and trampling. Some individuals fell into a nearby field of slush and mud, exacerbating the situation.
Local police reported that the number of people present was triple the allowed capacity. Witnesses described a scene where people tumbled down a slope into a water-logged ditch. Police are currently searching for the preacher.
Deadly incidents like this are unfortunately common during major religious festivals in India, which often attract millions of pilgrims to holy sites. According to a police officer on duty, Sheela Maurya, the overcrowding and simultaneous movement of the entire crowd, including women and children, led to the catastrophic event.
