"Rushing to Leave Due to Heat"... At Least 116 Crushed to Death at Hindu Festival in India

Most Victims Are Women and Children
Death Toll May Increase Further

More than 100 people died in a stampede accident at a Hindu event in India. The incident reportedly occurred when attendees, enduring heat above 30 degrees Celsius, began running to escape the hot and humid event venue.

According to the AP and other sources on the 2nd (local time), at least 116 people died in a stampede at a Hindu worship site in the Haatras region of northern India as crowds tried to exit simultaneously. Most of the deceased were women and children. The number of injured exceeds 80, raising concerns that the death toll may rise.

The police stated that participants, exhausted from the heat, hurried to leave after the event ended, causing the crowd surge. Officials reported that the venue was set up with temporary tents and was enclosed.

More than 100 people died in a stampede at a Hindu event held in the Haatras region of northern India. The photo shows the belongings of the deceased. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Jyoti, a teenager who was injured at the scene and hospitalized, told the local daily Hindustan Times, "There were many people gathered at the accident site, and the accident happened as people hurried to leave after the event ended." She added, "There was no exit (in the tent), and when people fell, others fell on top of them," explaining that it was difficult to get out because motorcycles parked around the tent blocked the way.

The excessive number of participants was also cited as a cause of the accident. A police official reported that about 15,000 people attended the event, which was three times the permitted number of approximately 5,000 authorized by the organizers. Additionally, some suggested that slipping and falling on the muddy floor of the venue might have contributed to the tragedy. However, the exact cause of the disaster has not yet been clearly determined.

Local authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Prashant Kumar, Uttar Pradesh Police Chief, stated, "An investigation into the negligence of the event organizers has begun," and added, "We will quickly identify those responsible."

Meanwhile, last month, over 1,000 people died due to heatwaves during the Islamic annual pilgrimage (Hajj) in the Mecca and Medina regions of Saudi Arabia. At that time, temperatures at the Mecca Grand Mosque reached as high as 51.8 degrees Celsius, resulting in extreme heat conditions.