Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Stampede at religious gathering in northern India kills at least 116

Relatives and volunteers carry the bodies on stretchers at the Sikandrarao hospital in Hathras district
Relatives and volunteers carry the bodies on stretchers at the Sikandrarao hospital in Hathras district Copyright  Manoj Aligadi/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved
Copyright Manoj Aligadi/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved
By Euronews with AP
Published on
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copy to clipboard Copied

Women and children are reported to be among the dead.

ADVERTISEMENT

A stampede at a religious gathering of thousands in northern India has killed at least 116 people and left dozens injured.

According to local media, the crush happened when attendees rushed to leave a makeshift tent following an event with Hindu leader, Bhole Baba.

Authorities reportedly said heat and suffocation inside could have been a factor in the sudden stampede. In video footage of the aftermath, the structure appeared to have collapsed. 

Local police officer Rajesh Singh said there was likely overcrowding in the event which took place in a village in the Hathras district. 

Initial reports suggested that over 15,000 people had gathered for the event, which only had permission to host about 5,000.

Bodies were being brought to hospitals and morgues by trucks and private vehicles, government official Matadin Saroj said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to those affected, saying “I wish a speedy recovery to all the injured. The administration, under the supervision of the state government, is carrying out rescue and relief operations. Senior officials of the central government are in continuous communication with the state government of Uttar Pradesh. Through this house, I assure everyone that the victims will be provided all help."

Deadly stampedes are relatively common around Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas with bad infrastructure and few safety measures.

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more

Landslides leave over 150 dead in India due to torrential rain

Anant Ambani, son of Asia's richest man, gets married in lavish wedding in Mumbai

Punjab faces worst floods in decades as heavy rains continue