Hathras stampede toll rises to 121; UP CM orders judicial probe
Hathras stampede toll rises to 121; UP CM orders judicial probe
Hathras (UP): The death toll in the stampede that broke out in a ‘satsang’ here rose to 121 on Wednesday and police filed an FIR against the organisers, accusing them of hiding evidence and flouting conditions with 2.5 lakh people crammed into a venue in which only 80,000 were permitted.
A day after the stampede in Phulrai village at a congregation by religious preacher Bhole Baba snuffed out the lives of their loved ones, stunned families tried to come to terms with their loss – dazed at how an afternoon out could have ended in such tragedy. Crowds gathered around hospitals, some looking for those missing, some there to identify bodies and others tending to the injured.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday announced a judicial probe into the Hathras stampede. He said that among those killed, six were from other states: four from Haryana, and one each from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
He said retired administration and police officials will also be part of the judicial inquiry to probe the stampede. The committee will find who is responsible for the tragedy, or if it was a conspiracy, the chief minister said.
“We will ensure such incidents do not occur in the future,” he said, adding the government may put in place a Standard Operating Procedure which will guide organisation of such events in the future. “We will ensure this.”
The Chief Minister also met those injured in the stampede — which took place around 3.30 pm when the Baba was leaving the venue with some accounts saying people slipped in the slush as they ran after the preacher’s car.
“The chief minister held a meeting with officials in the circuit house and met the injured in district hospitals,” a government official said.
A team consisting of ADG Agra and Aligarh Divisional Commissioner has been constituted to inquire into the cause of the incident. The report is likely to be submitted on Wednesday.
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