A stampede at a religious congregation killed 121 people as devotees suffocated to their deaths and bodies piled atop each other in the worst such tragedy in recent years.
The incident took place at a satsang (a Hindu religious event) in Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh state.
The exact cause of the stampede is still under investigation. Witnesses said the exit was too narrow and when people were leaving, a fierce dust storm led to confusion and panic, causing many people to become trampled.
The victims, including a large number of women and some children, are still being identified.
Survivors have described how the disaster unfolded as they tried to leave the event in Mughalgarhi village.
Yogi Adityanath, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has directed district officials to ensure the injured are hospitalized promptly and to expedite relief efforts. In a post on X, his office stated that the chief minister has also ordered a thorough probe into the incident to determine the underlying causes and prevent such tragedies in the future.
(Agencies)
