Death toll in mass panic in India rises to 121
The mass panic occurred on Tuesday, south of New Delhi in Hathras, following a sermon by a popular preacher. Witnesses and local media reported that the victims were either beaten to death or trampled. The victims were mostly women.
Hours after the tragic incident, discarded clothing and lost shoes were scattered around the muddy event site, an open field beside a highway. In a makeshift hall in Hathras, several unidentified bodies lay. A 35-year-old farmer named Ram Nivas stated that he was still searching for his bride-to-be Rumla, who had been missing since the incident. He had visited all nearby hospitals in the night. "We just hope that she is still alive," he added.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced compensation of approximately 2240 Euros for the families of the deceased and 560 Euros for the injured in the "tragic event".
In India, fatal incidents continue to occur near religious events. At least 112 people died in a banned fireworks explosion in a temple complex in the state of Kerala in 2016. In 2013, 115 worshippers were killed in a stampede near a bridge close to a temple in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Over 220 pilgrims also died in a stampede at a temple in the northern city of Jodhpur in 2008 due to a stampede.
- The incident on Tuesday, in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, reportedly resulted in at least 121 fatalities.
- The exact number of fatalities in the mass panic near New Delhi is yet to be confirmed, with reports suggesting it could be as high as 121.
- The incident in Hathras has led to widespread condemnation, with many calling for stricter safety measures at religious events in India, such as the one in New Delhi's Hathra, which resulted in numerous fatalities.
- According to the latest reports, the number of fatalities due to the stampede in Hathras, near New Delhi, has reached 121, making it one of the deadliest incidents of mass panic in India in recent years.
