- At least 60people have died and scores more are injured after a stampede at a religious gathering in northern India.
- The disaster occurred in a village in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh state during an event led by religious leader Bhole Baba.
- Medical officials have reported that more than 150 people were admitted to hospitals.
At least 60people are dead and scores are injured after a stampede at a religious gathering of thousands of people in northern India, officials said Tuesday.
More than 150 people were admitted to hospitals after the crush in a village in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh state, medical official Umesh Tripathi told The Associated Press. He said 60 of the dead were women and said the death toll was expected to rise.
The stampede occurred as attendees rushed to leave following an event with a religious leader named Bhole Baba, local media reported.
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Police officer Rajesh Singh said overcrowding may have been a factor. Initial reports suggested that over 15,000 people had gathered for the event, which had permission to host about 5,000.
People are seen waiting in a queue to cast their votes at a polling station in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh, India, on May 7, 2024. At least 27 people are dead and scores are injured after a stampede at a religious gathering of thousands of people in Hathras district, officials said on Tuesday. (Kabir Jhangiani/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
One survivor, Jyoti, who goes only by her first name, told local media that the stampede happened quickly as soon as the event ended. “Everyone was in a rush to leave … There was no way out and people were falling on each other,” she said.
Bodies were being brought to hospitals and morgues by trucks and private vehicles, government official Matadin Saroj said.
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The stampede took place about 217 miles southwest of state capital Lucknow.
Deadly stampedes are relatively common during Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas with few safety measures.
