Hathras stampede: Death toll rises to 121 as UP police register FIR against organisers

Hathras (Uttar Pradesh): As the death toll in a stampede on Tuesday at a religious event in Hathras district rose to 121, Uttar Pradesh Police registered a FIR against organisers of the religious congregation. The office of relief commissioner also informed that number of injured people stands at 28.

'Mukhya sevadar' Devprakash Madhukar and other organisers have been named in the first information report (FIR) filed at the Sikandara Rao police station late Tuesday. 

The FIR has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence), the officer said.

Meanwhile, the city ASP Amrit Jain says, "We received 38 bodies from Hathras district where the incident took place yesterday. We have successfully identified 36 of them. After completing the legal formalities - panchayat nama and post-mortem, we have sent those 36 bodies to their destinations along with their families. 2 bodies remain unidentified. For their identification, we have released their photographs to all the nearby districts and the entire state through the control room..."

According to the statement, lakhs of devotees gathered in the programme of Bhole Baba, famous as Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari, in Hathras district. More devotees arrived at the event than the permission given by the administration.

In the worst such tragedy in recent years, 121  devotees suffocated to death and their bodies piled atop each other in the stampede that took place in the district's Phulrai village. 

Overcrowding among reasons that killed 121 people

A police report said 250,000 people attended the event in northern India's Uttar Pradesh state, more than triple the 80,000 organisers had permission for.

On Wednesday morning, hours after the event, discarded clothing and lost shoes were scattered across the muddy site, an open field alongside a highway.

People fell on top of each other as they tumbled down a slope into a water-logged ditch, witnesses said.

"Everyone -- the entire crowd, including women and children -- all left from the event site at once," said police officer who had been on duty at the area.

"There wasn't enough space, and everyone just fell on top of each other."

Officials suggested the stampede was triggered when worshippers tried to gather soil from the footsteps of Bhole Baba, while others blamed a dust storm for sparking panic.

Some fainted from the force of the crowd, before falling and being trampled upon, unable to move.(With inputs from agencies)