Yogi vows to hold all accountable for Hathras stampede
Image credit X @YogiAdityanath
UP CM says volunteers of self-styled godman fled after Hathras stampede
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, July 3: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that those responsible for the Hathras accident will be brought to book, emphasizing that no one will be spared. He announced a judicial inquiry led by a retired High Court judge into the incident.
The Hathras stampede after a religious congregation left 121, mostly women, dead on Tuesday afternoon. The UT Police in its FIR claimed that the rush to collect soil after the congregation triggered the stampede.
“The internal arrangements for the event were managed by the sevadars (volunteers), while the administration provided police arrangements outside. However, the sevadars fled immediately after the accident, failing to arrange hospital transport for the injured,” Adityanath said.
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An SIT has been formed under the chairmanship of ADG Agra, and a preliminary report has already been submitted, informed the chief minister.
Responding to questions about the absence of an FIR against Bhole Baba, the chief minister explained that the initial FIR is against those who sought permission for the event, and the investigation will expand to hold all responsible parties accountable.
“A tragic and painful incident occurred in a village in Sikandrarao tehsil of Hathras district on Tuesday. The government promptly initiated measures to investigate the incident thoroughly. The accident claimed the lives of 121 devotees from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh,” added the chief minister.
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The chief minister also said: “During conversations, the seriously injured individuals recounted that the accident occurred when the storyteller’s convoy arrived on GT Road after the programme. A group of women approached him to touch his feet, followed by a crowd, which led to a stampede. The sevadars (volunteers) also pushed the people, resulting in the accident on both sides of GT Road.”
He added, “he most tragic aspect was that the sevadars, who usually prevent the administration from entering such programs, tried to suppress the incident immediately after it happened. However, when the administration began transporting the injured to the hospital, most sevadars fled the scene.”
“We cannot dismiss this incident simply as an accident. If it is indeed an accident, we must identify those responsible. If it is not an accident, we need to uncover any conspiracies involved,” added the chief minister.
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Adityanath also said that the notification for the judicial inquiry will be issued today. “Furthermore, this inquiry will devise recommendations and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent similar incidents in the future. These measures will be implemented in all future events of this nature,” added the chief minister.
“Ideally, in the event of an accident, the sevadars should have strengthened their internal systems. If unable, they should have collaborated with the administration to ensure prompt medical assistance for the injured,” added the chief minister.
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