Thousands of people were gathered in a huge field surrounded by parked vehicles–leaving little space to escape in case of a tragedy– shows a bird’s eye view video from Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras that captures moments before the stampede that killed 121.
These people were devotees of self-styled godman Narayan Sakar Hari, also known as Bhole Baba. They came to Hathras–some 200 km from the national capital Delhi– from across UP and neighbouring states for a ‘satsang’ or prayer meet and to see Bhole Baba.
According to police, organisers of the event permitted over 2,50,000 people to attend the prayer meet despite permission being given for only 80,000.
A video, which is taken from a height, shows a sea of people swarmed in a field surrounded by parked vehicles. A vehicle can be seen leaving the venue in the video. Some of the devotees can be seen running towards the vehicle.
Moments Before the Stampede: Caught on Camera
Just before the tragic stampede, a sea of devotees is seen on the ground in Hathras. The incident, which occurred on July 2, claimed the lives of 121 people.#HathrasStampede #Hathras #हाथरस #UttarPradesh #DeathToll #StampedeVictims pic.twitter.com/ZtC5zIMSG4
— Neha Bisht (@neha_bisht12) July 3, 2024
According to the preliminary report by police, at about 1.40 PM, when the godman was leaving the venue, his followers started running towards him for a ‘darshan’ and collecting soil from around his feet, leading to the stampede in the area.
“Satsangi women/men/children etc. started applying the dust of Baba’s feet on their foreheads (while trying) to get his darshan, touch his feet and take his blessings,” reads the report.
Another video shows hundreds of devotees sitting on ground and parked vehicles in the field, some of them fanning themselves with handheld fans or their clothes.
#WATCH : Video before the stampede at Hathras. Crowd of devotees gathered for Baba’s satsang in Hathras.#Hathras #Stampede #HathrasStampede #Mughalgarhi #UttarPradesh #HathrasNews #HathrasStampeded pic.twitter.com/f1XkHOCoQ0
— Indian Observer (@ag_Journalist) July 2, 2024
It had been raining heavily in the days leading up to the ‘satsang’, making the muddy field slippery. When people ran to save their lives, they fell on top of each other.
As per the post-mortem report of the victims were brought to a hospital in Agra, blood accumulation in the thoracic cavity due to chest injuries, asphyxia, and rib injuries were the causes of death.
Twenty-one bodies were brought to the S N Medical College and Hospital here after the stampede at a religious congregation in Pulrai village claimed 121 lives.
