116 killed in stampede at satsang in Uttar Pradesh

• They also wanted to collect some soil from around the baba’s feet

At least 116 people, including women and children, were killed after a stampede at a ‘satsang’ (religous event) in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras on Tuesday. The state government has ordered a probe into the incident and dispatched three ministers to reach the spot and monitor relief work.
Inspector General (Aligarh) Shalabh Mathur confirmed that 116 people have died so far. “An FIR will be filed against the organisers of the satsang as the crowd at the event was more than what was permitted. A high-level enquiry has been ordered,” he said. 

At least 116 people, including women and children, were killed after a stampede at a ‘satsang’ (religous event) in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras on Tuesday. The state government has ordered a probe into the incident and dispatched three ministers to reach the spot and monitor relief work.
Inspector General (Aligarh) Shalabh Mathur confirmed that 116 people have died so far. “An FIR will be filed against the organisers of the satsang as the crowd at the event was more than what was permitted. A high-level enquiry has been ordered,” he said. 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, who visited the stampede site, said that out of the 116 people who died, 108 were women, seven children and one man. Of these, 72 people have been identified so far, he said.
“An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured has been announced by the state government. The same amount will be given by the central government as well,” he said.
The satsang was organised by the Manav Mangal Milan Sadbhavna Samagam Committee for self-styled godman Narayan Sakar Hari, also known as Sakar Vishwa Hari or Bhole Baba. The police are on the lookout for Bhole Baba, who has not been found after the stampede incident.
According to eyewitnesses, the devotees suffocated to their deaths and bodies piled atop each other in the stampede -– among the biggest such tragedies in recent years.  
According to Sikandra Rao sub-divisional magistrate Ravendra Kumar, the stampede took place when devotees tried to get a glimpse of the Bhole Baba, who conducted the ‘satsang’, at the end of the event. They also wanted to collect some soil from around the baba’s feet, he said. 
(PTI)