A tragic stampede during a Satsang organized by self-styled preacher Baba Narayan Hari, alias Saakar Vishwa Hari ‘Bhole Baba’, has claimed the lives of at least 121 people, predominantly women devotees. The incident occurred on July 2 in Rati Bhanpur village, Sikandra Rau area of Hathras district.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage obtained by PTI reveals Bhole Baba’s convoy departing from the village shortly after the stampede. The footage depicts several volunteers, known as ‘Sevak’, lining the road as the convoy passes through.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the events leading up to the stampede. According to Gopal Kumar, the congregation concluded around 2 pm, following which Baba Narayan Hari exited via a designated route, bypassing the gathering of devotees. As his vehicle approached the highway, a surge of devotees rushed towards it, seeking blessings and charan dhul (dust of his feet).
“A huge crowd rushed towards the highway. Many fell and were unable to get up amidst the chaos, leading to tragic casualties, primarily among women,” described Kumar.
In response to the incident, the Uttar Pradesh Police have taken swift action, arresting six individuals, all sevadars, including two females and four males. They have also announced a bounty of ₹1 lakh for the arrest of the main accused, identified as Prakash Madhukar.
IG (Aligarh Range) Shalabh Mathur clarified that Bhole Baba’s name is not included in the FIR as the permission for the religious event was not sought in his name. However, the police have not ruled out questioning him during their investigation, which is also examining reports of his alleged criminal history.
The stampede has sparked widespread concern and mourning in Hathras, prompting authorities to review crowd management protocols for religious gatherings to prevent future tragedies.
Sources By Agencies
