Hathras stampede: 121 killed at satsang; where is Bhole Baba?

Narayan Saakar Hari alias 'Bhole Baba', the preacher at whose satsang more than 120 people died during a stampede in Hathras district on Tuesday, continues to remain at large, the Uttar Pradesh Police said.

Deputy superintendent of police Sunil Kumar said Bhole Baba could not be found after the Uttar Pradesh Police carried out a search operation at Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri district in search of the self-styled godman, who held a Satsang in Hathras where a stampede took place. 

"We did not find Baba ji inside the campus...He is not here..." said Sunil Kumar.

Hathras stampede: Bhole Baba an intelligence man to preacher with a cult following

The stampede took place around 3.30pm when Bhole Baba was leaving the venue.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed district officials to speed up relief work. He also ordered a probe into the incident.

Major stampedes in India over the years

Latest updates on the satsang stampede in Hathras:

According to the Office of the Relief Commissioner, the death toll in the Hathras stampede jumped to 121, while 28 people were injured in the tragedy. Hathras chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Manjeet Singh earlier said 32 bodies were brought here, and 19 of them have been identified. "We are identifying the rest of them..." he said.

Aligarh district magistrate Vishak G Iyer said as many as 23 bodies have been brought to Aligarh, and a total of three injured people are receiving treatment, and out of them, one is in critical condition.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath vowed a thorough investigation into the incident to determine whether it was an "accident or a conspiracy." He affirmed that the state government is committed to uncovering the truth behind the Hathras incident.

Guru behind 'Satsang' where 116 died claimed he worked for Intelligence Bureau

Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh said overcrowding was one of the reasons behind the stampede. After the 'satsang', devotees were running after the vehicle of Baba Narayan Hari, who is also known as Saakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba and had organised the event, while some bent down to collect soil from the venue and fell, Manoj Kumar Singh said. The chief secretary visited the stampede site with Uttar Pradesh director general of police (DGP) Prashant Kumar.

Prashant Kumar said most of the victims were women and children. 

The state government said that Agra's additional director general of police and Aligarh divisional commissioner are part of a team that will probe the incident. The team has been asked to give its report within 24 hours.

Bhole Baba is a former UP police staffer who worked with the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) for 18 years and took voluntary retirement in 1990, when he was posted in Etah, in order to pursue spirituality. Known for a certain flamboyance, he has a vast following among the lower middle class and the poor in the Etah-Kasganj and the Braj region and some other pockets.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the loss of lives in the stampede in Hathras and wished speedy recovery to the injured. Modi also spoke with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath following the tragedy.

Envoys of several countries, including Germany, France, China and Israel, mourned the loss of lives in the stampede and extended condolences to the victims' families. External affairs minister S Jaishankar in a post on X said he was deeply distressed by the tragic incident.

Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav questioned the government over the preparations when it was aware that there would be a large gathering at an event. 

"We got this information when we were in the Parliament. The question is what was the government doing when such an incident took place? So many people have lost their lives. They are responsible for this. Help should be provided to the families of the deceased. I hope that the government will ensure the best treatment for the injured," Akhilesh Yadav said.