If there were talks of 20 deaths at first, the number quickly began to rise. At present 107 people have died there and many others have been injured. International media on the ground say the injury and death toll could rise.
Nearly 100 people were crushed and hundreds injured in a stampede during a Hindu festival in northern India, a senior local official told AFP.
“We are focusing on providing relief and medical assistance to the victims,” said Chaitra V, a superintendent from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh state. told AFP.
Police manage mourners as those who died in a scuffle during a sermon are brought to a hospital in Hadhras, Uttar Pradesh state, India, on July 2, 2024. Nearly 100 people were crushed to death in a stampede at a Hindu gathering. In northern India on July 2, several people were injured, a senior government official said. (Photo by Pawan Sharma/AFP)
Credits: 24
” data-title=”Police manage mourners as a man who died in a scuffle during a sermon is brought to a hospital in Hadhras, Uttar Pradesh state, India, on July 2, 2024. 100 people were crushed to death in the stampede. Several people were injured in a Hindu rally in northern India on July 2, a senior government official said. (Photo by Pawan Sharma / AFP) – Sandstorm kills more than 100 as religious gathering crushes in India – SAPO 24″>
According to local magistrate Hadhras Ashish Kumar BBC, more victims are yet to be identified and the priority is to take the injured to hospitals. At this time, the injured are transported by any means, according to the British agency, transportation is done by tuktuks and even motorcycles.
Congestion during a religious event is problematic. A witness said Guardian After the sermon, people tried to leave at once, and while fleeing the sandstorm, they fell into a ditch in the road and got stuck together, “crushed to death”.
Worshipers gathered to hear a guru during celebrations honoring the Hindu god Shiva in the city of Hadhras, but a sandstorm spread panic as the crowd dispersed.
Many were crushed or trampled to death, and some fell into roadside ditches.
“As the participants were leaving the venue, a sandstorm blinded them, confused them and caused the subsequent tragic incident,” said Chaitra V, a superintendent from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh state.
Most of the dead were women, Uttar Pradesh Chief Medical Officer Umesh Kumar Tripathi told reporters, adding that “many injured” were rushed to hospital in dozens of ambulances.
Weeping men and women waited outside the Eta Mortuary to confirm the death of their relatives.
“After the sermon, everyone started running,” Sakundala, who gave only her first name, told the Press Trust of India news agency.
“People fell into a ditch near the road. One fell on them and was crushed to death,” he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a compensation of $2,400 to the families of the deceased and $600 to the injured.
“My deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones (…). I wish a speedy recovery to all the injured,” Modi wrote on social networking site X.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered an inquiry into the incident.
Mourners gather as a man who died in a scuffle during a sermon is brought to a hospital in Hadhras, Uttar Pradesh state, India, on July 2, 2024. Nearly 100 people were crushed to death in a stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in northern India. On July 2, several people were injured, a senior government official said. (Photo by Pawan Sharma/AFP)
Credits: 24
“data-title=”Mourning gathers as a man who died in a scuffle during a sermon is brought to a hospital in Hadhras, Uttar Pradesh, India, on July 2, 2024. Nearly 100 people were crushed in a stampede. A Hindu religious gathering in northern India on July 2 left several injured, a senior government official said. (Photo by Pawan Sharma / AFP) – Sandstorm kills more than 100 as religious gathering crushes in India – SAPO 24″>
Mass pilgrimages
Deaths occur frequently during India’s major religious celebrations that bring together large numbers of pilgrims at holy sites.
In 2016, at least 112 people died when firecrackers exploded at a temple celebrating the Hindu New Year in the state of Kerala. The explosion destroyed buildings and set fire to the temple complex.
In 2013, 115 devotees died in a stampede on a bridge near a temple in Madhya Pradesh. About 400,000 people had gathered at the site and riots broke out as rumors spread that the bridge was about to collapse.
In 2008, a stampede at a hill temple in Jodhpur left 224 pilgrims dead and over 400 injured.
*With AFP
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