Indian religious event stampede claims at least 87 lives: Report

UTTAR PRADESH: At least 87 people are feared dead after a stampede broke out at a Hindu religious gathering in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, NDTV reports on Tuesday.

As per the details, the incident took place in a village in Hathras district, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) southeast of New Delhi. Officials revealed that the stampede took place when a large crowd gathered in an open field following a summons by a local religious leader.

District police spokesman Manish Chikara initially reported the death toll at around 60, warning that the number could rise. Disturbing videos circulating on social media showed bodies strewn outside a nearby hospital, although Reuters has not independently verified the footage.

“The incident occurred due to overcrowding when people were trying to exit the venue,” Hathras district administrator Ashish Kumar remarked during a press briefing.

Eyewitnesses shared heart-wrenching accounts, with one person telling India Today of the chaos in the narrow passage: “When we tried to move towards the adjoining farm, there was a sudden commotion, which surprised us.”

Uttar Pradesh, home to over 200 million inhabitants, stands as the most populous state in India. After this, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a comprehensive investigation into this tragic incident.

“Directions have been issued to the concerned authorities to speedily mobilize relief and rescue operations and ensure proper medical care of the injured,” he said in a statement.

The stampede marks another stark reminder of the security challenges faced by large public gatherings in India, prompting urgent calls for increased crowd management protocols across the country.