India: Stampede at Religious Gathering Claims Over 100 Lives

Above: Relatives of victims who died in a stampede gather outside a hospital on July 02, 2024 in Hathras, India. Image copyright: Getty Images/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

  • More than 100 people were killed Tuesday in the Indian district of Hathras, located in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The deaths were due to a stampede at a Hindu religious gathering organized by a guru who goes by two names — Bhole Baba and Sakar Vishwa Hari.

  • Despite only having a permit to hold a 5K-person event, Baba's event on Tuesday reportedly welcomed 15K. Hospitals struggled to deal with the overwhelming casualties.


The Spin

Narrative A

This isn't the first time Bhole Baba has organized a dangerously large gathering, having previously held a 50K-strong event despite only being approved for less than 100 people. As the event organizer, he must be thoroughly investigated and held accountable.

Narrative B

While Bhole Baba and his event should be investigated, it's important to note that India has a history of deadly religious events, some of which bring up to 1M attendees. Authorities should implement proactive steps — such as improved crowd control and safety planning — to prevent such tragedies from ever occurring again.


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