Rahul Gandhi Meets Hathras Stampede Victims’ Families: Historical Context and Key Points

Historical Context: The tragic stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, on July 2, 2024, is reminiscent of several past incidents in India where large gatherings at religious events have led to similar disasters. India has a history of stampedes at religious gatherings due to overcrowding and inadequate safety measures. Notable incidents include the 2013 stampede at the Ratangarh Temple in Madhya Pradesh, which claimed over 115 lives, and the 2008 Naina Devi Temple stampede in Himachal Pradesh, which resulted in 162 deaths. These events highlight the recurring issue of crowd management and safety at large public gatherings in India.

Article: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visited Hathras in Uttar Pradesh on Friday morning to meet the families affected by the July 2 stampede. The incident occurred during a religious ‘satsang’ event in Fulari village, resulting in the deaths of 123 people. Gandhi also made a stop in Aligarh to meet with other victims’ families.

The bodies of all 123 victims have been identified and returned to their families. The stampede took place at an event organized by the self-styled godman Suraj Pal, also known as ‘Bhole Baba’.

During his visit, Rahul Gandhi spoke with the bereaved families, who expressed their grievances about the lack of medical facilities and proper arrangements at the event. One family member mentioned that Gandhi assured them of his support and promised to raise the issue in Parliament to prevent such incidents in the future.

Nitin Kumar, who lost his mother Shanti Devi in the stampede, recounted the chaos and his subsequent search for his mother. He appreciated Gandhi’s visit but noted that the Congress MP did not come to their house directly, which disappointed some family members.

The Uttar Pradesh Police have conducted a search operation at the Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri, associated with ‘Bhole Baba’, but did not find him there. An FIR has been registered against the event organizers.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a judicial probe into the incident. A three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission, chaired by Justice (retd) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, has been established to investigate the stampede and submit a report within two months. Preliminary reports suggest that the stampede was triggered when devotees rushed to seek blessings and collect soil from around the preacher’s feet, leading to chaos when they were stopped by security personnel.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• Rahul Gandhi visited Hathras to meet families affected by the July 2 stampede.
• The stampede occurred at a religious ‘satsang’ event in Fulari village, killing 123 people.
• Victims’ families expressed grievances about inadequate medical facilities and arrangements.
• Gandhi assured families of his support and promised to raise the issue in Parliament.
• Uttar Pradesh Police conducted a search operation for ‘Bhole Baba’ but did not find him.
• An FIR has been registered against the event organizers.
• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered a judicial probe into the incident.
• A three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission will investigate and report within two months.
• Preliminary reports indicate the stampede was caused by a rush of devotees seeking blessings.