In India's UP, 123 dead in religious event stampede; president condoles

A RELIGIOUS event in Hathras in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous province, turned into hell on Tuesday (2) when 123 people, including women and children, were killed after a stampede broke out, officials confirmed.

The incident took place during a 'satsang' (prayer meeting). Visuals emerged from a local community health centre showing several bodies being brought there in vehicles in the presence of weeping relatives. The injured people were rushed to a medical college located in Aligarh, around 38 kilometres away.

While It was not immediately clear what caused the stampede, the local media quoted some eyewitnesses as saying that it started when the event ended and people hurried to leave.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath formed a committee to investigate the matter. Indian president Droupadi Murmu expressed her condolences to the kin of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

In a tweet in Hindi, she said, "The news of the death of many devotees including women and children in the accident in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh is heart-rending. I express my deepest condolences to those who lost their family members and pray for the speedy recovery of those injured."

Modi condoles deaths while speaking in parliament

Prime minister Narendra Modi, who was engaged in a fierce debate with the opposition in the Lok Sabha, deviated from his speech to give the tragic news.

"In the midst of these discussions I have also been given sad news. It has come to my attention that there have been many tragic deaths in the stampede in Hathras...," he said.

"I express my condolences to those who lost their lives (and) hope for the speedy recovery of the injured," he added.

Uttar Pradesh is governed by Modi's BJP which failed to replicate its past performances in the state in this year's election.

Modi also said senior federal government officers had been asked to coordinate with their state counterparts to coordinate the rescue and aid efforts in Hathras.

"Through this forum, I assure everyone that all possible assistance will be provided to the victims," he said.

The PM's office announced on X that the prime minister announced Rs 2 lakh (£1,890) compensation to each of the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 (£473) to each of those who got injured.

Home minister Amit Shah also condoled the deaths and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

In a post in Hindi on X, the president of the opposition Indian National Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge said the news of death of many devotees is extremely painful.

"The scenes at the accident are extremely heart-rending. We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families. We urge the government and administration to leave no stone unturned in treating the injured and provide immediate compensation to the victims," Kharge said.

Workers of opposition parties are requested to provide all possible help to the people affected, he added.

Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi expressed condolences to the bereaved families and hoped for the speedy recovery of the injured.

The city of Hathras is located some 140 kilometres southeast of New Delhi, the national capital.

Umesh Kumar Tripathi, chief medical officer, told reporters, "The primary reason is a stampede during a religious event," AFP reported.

Deadly incidents at places of worship not uncommon in India

Deadly accidents are common at places of worship in India during major religious festivals.

At least 112 people were killed in 2016 after a huge explosion caused by a banned fireworks display at a temple marking the Hindu new year.

The blast ripped through concrete buildings and ignited a fire at a temple complex in Kerala state, where thousands had gathered.

Another 115 devotees were killed in 2013 after a stampede at a bridge near a temple in the central state of Madhya Pradesh.

About 224 pilgrims died and more than 400 others were injured in a stampede at a hilltop temple in the northern city of Jodhpur in 2008.

(With AFP inputs)