At a religious event in Hathras, India, at least 116 people, mostly women and children, were killed in a stampede that occurred when a crowd rushed to touch a Hindu preacher. The event was overcrowded, with organizers expecting 80,000 attendees but facing up to three times that number. The state’s chief minister announced compensation for the families of the deceased and critically injured and promised a thorough investigation into the incident.
Witnesses described people falling on top of each other as they were crushed, resulting in a significant number of women and children being among the dead. This is consistent with stampedes, as those who are smaller or shorter are at a higher risk of suffocation.
Stampedes are relatively common in India, particularly at religious events that attract large crowds. In the past, similar incidents have occurred due to inadequate safety arrangements and poor crowd management. Experts suggest that proper planning, risk assessments, and guidelines should be implemented to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Efforts have been made to urge the Indian government to establish guidelines and committees to address safety measures at large gatherings to avoid incidents like the stampede in Hathras. It is highlighted that previous incidents have not resulted in sufficient changes or improvements in event management protocols.
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