At a religious meeting (satsang) of self-styled godman Bhole Baba in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, there was a stampede that left 121 lives lost in Hathras and 28 injured. With permits for 80,000 people, the event drew nearly 2.5 lakh devotees, resulting in chaos and overcrowding.

After Bhole Baba, whose true name is Suraj Pal Singh, left the location in his convoy, there was a stampede. A throng of female followers hurried to touch the godman's feet and gather soil from the earth he had walked on as his vehicles were pulling away. This created a disturbance, and the organizers had to break up the throng so the convoy could pass.

121 lives lost in Hathras
Image Source: ncw.nic.in

Due to recent rains, heavy humidity, and devotees' rush to board buses and head home after the satsang concluded, the situation was made worse by the uneven and slick ground. The disaster got worse because of the organizers' inability to control the large crowd and the insufficient use of police force.

Dev Prakash Madhukar, the primary organizer, and other unnamed individuals are the targets of a formal complaint that was filed. According to the accusation, the organizers made up evidence following the stampede and concealed the true number of anticipated devotees while requesting permission. Bhole Baba fled the location just before the catastrophe occurred, therefore it is unknown where he is now.

The Uttar Pradesh government has said that the families of the deceased will get ₹2 lakh each, while the injured will receive ₹50,000. The National Commission for Women has demanded that Bhole Baba be taken into custody, and a three-person panel has been established to look into the incident.

Large religious gatherings require improved crowd control and safety precautions, as the Hathras stampede shows. It also calls into question the absence of regulation in the spiritual industry and the role of self-proclaimed godmen. Ensuring that those accountable for the negligence are held accountable and that preventative measures are made to avoid similar catastrophes in the future is imperative as the inquiry moves forward.

Suraj Pal Singh, also known as Bhole Baba, has a past filled with legal issues, including accusations of sexual assault. He has been the target of numerous lawsuits in several different states, including Rajasthan, Agra, Etawah, Kasganj, and Farrukhabad.

Bhole Baba's lawyer asserted that the stampede was caused by "anti-social elements" and that the godman never allows his devotees to get close to his feet. The authorities, however, contest these assertions.

The First Information Report (FIR) submitted about the Hathras stampede incident does not include Bhole Baba. According to the FIR, the organizers disguised the true number of devotees attending the festival, which had permission for 80,000 persons but drew in over 2.5 lakh. Additionally, it charges the organizers with withholding evidence following the stampede and refusing to assist with traffic management.

Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has announced that an investigation will be conducted to determine the person(s) accountable for the disaster. The case has been filed against the individuals who requested permission to host the event. But Bhole Baba is not specifically mentioned in the FIR, raising doubts about his role.

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