Devotees surged towards preacher moments before lethal India stampede, witnesses say

HATHRAS - Thousands of devotees rushed to get a closer glimpse of a Hindu preacher, jostling and pushing on slippery ground, witnesses say, moments before a crush at an overcrowded venue in India killed 121 people and sparked a police hunt for the organisers.

The stampede occurred on July 2 at Phulrai Mughal Garhi village in Hathras district in the populous northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where ‘preacher Suraj Pal Singh, also known as ‘Bhole Baba, was holding a monthly congregation.

About 250,000 people had gathered in a canopied ground by a highway, although the authorities had given permission for only 80,000, police said. At least 121 people were killed and 31 injured, with the dead including 112 women and seven children.

The trouble started after the hour-long afternoon congregation concluded and the preacher was leaving the venue in his car, witnesses told Reuters on July 3.

The entrance and exit of the venue was big enough for 10 or 20 people to move through at the same time “but thousands rushed when Baba’s car left, following his car on foot to get a closer look at him”, said Mr Sankalp Gautam, 22, who was with his aunt Kusum Devi, who was injured in the melee and is in hospital.

Madam Devi fell and was crushed under people as she tried to help one of her two sisters who was struggling to get up. The sister was injured and died in hospital, Mr Gautam said.'

Farmer Lakhan Singh's house overlooks the venue and he said he was sitting on the terrace and watching the sea of people at the congregation.

"Baba talked about living well, caring for one another... and then started walking out and got into his car," Mr Singh said, adding that vehicles of attendees had caused a traffic jam on the highway.

"People wanted to