More than 100 killed in Indian religious event stampede, officials say
Washington PostJun 20
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.