Hathras Stampede: Why are so many people dying at a religious event in Uttar Pradesh?

Hathras, a district in Uttar Pradesh, India, is once again in the spotlight due to a recent stampede at a religious gathering. This tragic event has resulted in a death toll of 121 people so far, with dozens of devotees injured.

What happened in Hathras?

On Tuesday, a large crowd had gathered for a religious event in Hathras, known as a Satsang. As per reports, organisers of the event only had clearance to host 80,000 devotees. However, over 2.5 lakh people gathered on the day of the event, leading to dangerous levels of overcrowding. People panicked and surged forward in a confined space, resulting in a stampede that led to suffocation and death.


Organisers are being heavily criticised for overcrowding the venue and failing to implement proper safety measures. At the centre of it all is Narayan Saakar Hari, also known as Bhole Baba, a controversial self-styled Godman who led the Satsang at Hathras.

What caused the deaths?

While the exact cause of deaths will only become clear after a probe, officials have provided some explanations. After the Satsang ended, hundreds of devotees rushed to touch Bhole Baba’s feet and collect soil that the Godman walked and drove on, creating a serious rush amidst an already overcrowded space.

Further, in an attempt to escape “extreme humidity” amidst a rainy day, large groups of devotees had attempted to hurriedly exit the premises as the Satsang was about to end. Push quickly led to shove, and many slipped on the mud, fell, and were crushed in the stampede at Hathras.

Additionally, The Indian Express reported that a particularly hazardous road was opened to the public after the Satsang ended. As per PTI, the road was built at a high elevation, and the overcrowding led to many falling down to a drain below, leading to their deaths.

Is someone to blame for the Hathras casualties?

Public outcry has pointed fingers at the event organisers for their negligence in crowd management and safety protocols, especially considering that it is well-known that Bhole Baba’s Satsangs are notorious for drawing large crowds. Many have also directly blamed Bhole Baba for the deaths in Hathras.

While an FIR has been filed against the ‘sevadars’ (religious volunteers or organisers) of the event, some have expressed dissatisfaction that Bhole Baba was not named in it. The FIR has been registered against the Mukhya sevadar Devprakash Madhukar and other organisers, as per PTI.

Aftermath of the stampede

The Hathras stampede has caused widespread grief and anger. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a full investigation into the incident.

Further, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced a Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for those who tragically passed away at the Satsang event. However, opposition party members have deemed that the amount is “a joke”.