Hathras stampede: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi left for stampede-affected Hathras on Friday morning. He will be meeting the families affected by the stampede, that claimed the lives of 121 people. According to sources, Gandhi will be visiting Pilkana village to meet the families of four deceased and some injured. Local police and CRPF personnel deployed for the Congress leader’s security have arrived in the village.
On Thursday, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai said that Gandhi will also meet the family members of the victims. Our leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Hathras on Friday. He will meet the family members of the victims of the incident,” said Rai. The Uttar Pradesh Congress chief also blamed the state government for the incident.
CM Yogi ordered a judicial probe
Earlier on Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Hathras and met with those who were injured and the kin of the deceased in the stampede. He also announced a judicial probe into the tragedy which will be headed by a retired High Court judge. The CM has announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.
FIR against organisers
Meanwhile, Police have lodged an FIR against the organisers of the congregation, accusing them of hiding evidence and flouting conditions, with 2. 5 lakh people gathering for the event, exceeding the permitted capacity of 80,000. The Uttar Pradesh police on Thursday said they have arrested six members of the organising committee of preacher Bhole Baba’s ‘satsang’ in connection with the case.
Hathras stampede claims 121 lives
According to the Uttar Pradesh government, the majority of the 121 individuals who died in the stampede during the ‘satsang’ in Sikandra Rao have been identified. The event drew devotees from various districts across Uttar Pradesh and neighboring states. They said the tragedy occurred when devotees tried to get a glimpse of Bhole Baba as the event ended. They also wanted to collect some soil from around the Baba’s feet. District Magistrate Ashish Kumar said the satsang was a private function for which the sub-divisional magistrate had granted permission.
(With inputs from agencies)
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