A day after 121 people were crushed to death at a religious event in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, families of some of the victims are still searching for their loved ones.
The incident took place during a satsang (a Hindu religious festival) organised by a self-styled preacher called Bhole Baba.
Police said that massive overcrowding at the venue in Hathras district led to Tuesday’s crush – they have registered a case against the event’s main organisers.
It’s one of the worst such tragedies for many years in India, where accidents involving large crowds are often blamed on lax safety measures and crowd management.
On Wednesday, a large number of policemen were present as politicians visited the site to find out how the tragedy unfolded.
Dozens of workers were busy removing the sprawling tent from the event venue, about 500 metres from the main road. Two colourful arches bearing the name and photograph of the self-styled guru stood at the entrance and exit.
Early morning rain had drenched the place and large pools of water made it difficult to walk around.
The organisers had laid a brick path, leading to the main stage. It was strewn with clothes and shoes of victims – a painful reminder of the many lives lost. 121 people
Officials said most of the dead and injured were women.
Yogesh Yadav, who lives in the neighbourhood, was one of the first to rush to the site.
“After the prayer meeting was over, Bhole Baba was leaving. Hundreds of women ran after his car to pick up the soil underneath the tyres of the vehicle as a way of seeking his blessing,” he told the BBC.
SOURCE: BBC
