In a tragic turn of events, overcrowding has been identified as the main cause of the deadly stampede at a ‘satsang’ in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, where 121 lives were lost. This revelation comes from a report submitted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the Yogi Adityanath government.

The comprehensive report was prepared by Additional Director General of Police (Agra) Anupam Kulshreshtha and Aligarh Divisional Commissioner Chaitra V. It includes statements from 128 witnesses, among them police officers who were on duty during the satsang of Narayan Sakar Hari, also known as ‘Bhole Baba’. The findings have been delivered to the state Home Department, and Chief Minister Adityanath is expected to review the report today.

While further details are awaited, preliminary reports suggest that the SIT has indicated the self-styled godman and his aides might have been able to prevent the tragedy.

Earlier, an FIR registered in connection with the ‘satsang’ revealed that the event organizers had sought permission for a gathering of approximately 80,000 people, but an overwhelming crowd of 2.5 lakh turned up. As a result, nine individuals, including the main organizer of the July 2 event, Devprakash Madhukar, have been arrested.

The self-styled godman, Narayan Sakar Hari, has not been named an accused in the FIR and has been on the run since the stampede occurred. His lawyer, AP Singh, issued a statement asserting that the preacher is willing to cooperate with investigators. Additionally, the lawyer suggested a conspiracy, claiming unidentified men had sprayed poison at the event, triggering the stampede.

Senior police officer Anupam Kulshreshtha told news agency PTI last week that while they have not ruled out the conspiracy angle, evidence gathered so far points to the organizers’ culpability.

According to reports, the stampede began when the ‘godman’ was leaving, and his followers rushed to collect dust stirred up by his car’s tyres. The subdivisional magistrate’s report indicates that the godman’s private security guards started pushing his followers, causing some people to fall and be trampled. In the ensuing chaos, many others fled towards an open field, where they slipped and were trampled by others running over them.