Hathras: What we know about crush that killed 121 in Uttar Pradesh

The number of people killed in a crush at a religious gathering in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has risen to 121, making it one of the deadliest such disasters in more than a decade.

The incident occurred on Tuesday during a satsang, a Hindu spiritual holiday, in the Hathras city.

Police claimed that the number of persons present at the place was three times the legal threshold, and that the majority of the victims or those who suffered injuries were mostly women.

A circumstance has been registered against the show’s organisers.

In India, the tragedy has sparked anger and raised concerns about safety violations.

What happened?

A self-styled godman known as Bhole Baba was holding a religious meeting in Phulrai town when the incident occurred.

Authorities said the event was substantially overcrowded.

Authorities had given permission for 80, 000 people to gather but around 250, 000 people attended the event, according to the first information report ( FIR ) lodged by the police.

At the conclusion of the service, the priest was about to keep in his car. Chaos broke out.

In an act of devotion, thousands of followers reportedly ran toward his car and began collecting particles from the course.

As masses swelled, several of those sitting and squatting on the ground got crushed.

Some people attempted to run across the road’s piece of mud-filled fields, but the organizers violently stopped them and caused them to fall.

Police have filed a lawsuit against a man who they claim was the game’s principal organizer and a few others on a number of counts, including criminal homicide.

On Tuesday, troubling photos from the page were circulated online.

Some video showed the wounded being taken to clinics in choose- up trucks, tuk tuks and also motorbikes.

Other videos showed upset family members yelling as they searched for their loved ones among the piles of bodies that had been left at the hospital’s entry.

Bunty, who uses just one name and comes from the country’s Aligarh area, said he was devastated at the loss of his family.

On Tuesday night, he spotted her figure lying outside a clinic.

However, he told BBC Hindi,” I could never find my mother that when I went there, and I’ve since been trying to find her body.”

Another expressed anger over the event.

Ritesh Kumar, whose 28- season- aged woman was among those killed, said his existence had been upended.

” My community has been destroyed. The authorities should see to it that we get justice”, he said.

Where is the priest then?

The personal- styled godman, whose original name is Suraj Pal, is believed to be hiding in his monastery in Mainpuri, about 100km ( 62 miles ) from Pulrai community.

Although little is known about him, accounts claim that he worked as a constable for the state authorities and that he later adopted the name Bhole Baba.

He has a large number of followers, many of whom have claimed to have been following his religious principles for ages.

According to police, he is the owner of the Ram Kutir Charitable Trust, which was the primary organizer of Tuesday’s function.

Satsangs are occasions when people gather to worship, perform spiritual songs, or hear a preacher. They frequently include many women.

Gomti Devi, who was present at the event, said she had a lot of trust in the Bhole Baba.

She said she wears a bracelet with his picture because he” treatment illnesses, ends domestic difficulties, and provides work”.

Abhishek Mathur provided further monitoring for Hathras.