Hathras Stampede: UP CM Yogi Adityanath orders judicial probe, says ashram volunteers ran away after the incident

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today ordered a judicial probe in the Hathras stampede incident where over 120 followers of Bhole Baba, popularly known as Jagat Guru Saakar Vishwahari, lost their lives. As per police, around 2.5 lakh devotees gathered in the programme. CM Yogi announced that the Special Investigation Team headed by a retired Judge will have retired police and administration members. "The panel will investigate lapses, and determine if it was a mishap or conspiracy," Yogi Adityanath said.

Yogi also criticised the ashram volunteers for badly managing the crowd and leaving the victims after the stampede. He also hit out at opposition leader in connection to the incident. Without taking any name, Yogi said that some leaders are connected with the self-claimed godman.

In the worst such tragedy in recent years, 121 devotees suffocated to death and their bodies piled atop each other in the stampede that took place in the district's Phulrai village on Tuesday.

The stampede at a religious gathering in Hathras district, Uttar Pradesh, has resulted in 121 fatalities, officials reported. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, also left 28 people injured, according to the Office of the Relief Commissioner on Wednesday.

Among the injured, six are being treated at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Aligarh, six at Deen Dayal Hospital in Aligarh, nine at Bagla Hospital in Hathras, one at Agra SN Medical College, and six at Etah Medical College in Hathras.

Uttar Pradesh police are searching for Narayan Saakar Hari, also known as Bhole Baba, the preacher of the 'Satsang' during which the stampede occurred. Deputy SP Sunil Kumar stated, "We did not find Baba ji inside the campus. He is not here."

An FIR has been lodged against the event organizers. 'Mukhya Sewadar' Devprakash Madhukar and others are accused in the case registered at Sikandara Rao police station on Tuesday night.

Shakuntala Devi, an eyewitness, recounted the chaos: "There was a Satsang of Bhole Baba. After it ended, many people started exiting. A stampede occurred as the road was uneven, and people fell on each other."