Hathras stampede: Rush to take Bhole Baba's dhool caused commotion, says FIR

At least 121 people, mostly women, were killed in a stampede during Satsang in Sikandra Rao area of Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday.

Eyewitness claims the incident occurred when devotees rushed to collect "Baba’s Charan Dhul" (soil from the feet of the godman), leading to a massive commotion and several individuals fell into a nearby ditch.

The Uttar Pradesh Police have registered an FIR against the organisers of the satsang.

The followers of the Bhole Baba had thrown the slippers and other belongings of victims in nearby fields with standing crops to hide evidence of a stampede, the FIR said.

The FIR has not named Narayan Sakar Hari who is absconding.

The organiser had sought permission for the gathering of about 80,000 devotees in the programme but the satsang was reportedly attended by about 2.50 lakh people from different districts and nearby states lakh people, the FIR said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath constituted a team to inquire into stampede.

CM Yogi also announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the dead and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.