Rahul Gandhi Visits Hathras Stampede Victims, Blames Administration

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visited Pilakhna village in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh on Friday to meet the families of the victims of the Hathras stampede, which resulted in the deaths of 121 people and left over a dozen injured.

During his visit, Rahul Gandhi spoke with the families to understand the details of the incident and the assistance they had received. He assured them that he would raise their concerns in the appropriate forums and provide assistance in every possible way.

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Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has attributed the Hathras stampede, which claimed the lives of 121 people, to administrative negligence. He emphasized the need for swift and substantial compensation for the affected families, refraining from politicizing the tragedy but highlighting evident lapses in administration.

Questioning how a crowd exceeding the permitted 80,000 attendees gathered, Gandhi called for accountability and proper action against those responsible. He criticized inadequate police deployment at the event and, during visits to Aligarh and Hathras, advocated for justice and generous compensation for the victims’ families, noting their disadvantaged economic status.

Asserting solidarity, Gandhi assured that the Congress Party would extend necessary assistance. The stampede occurred during a satsang led by self-styled godman Suraj Pal, also known as Narayan Sakar Hari and ‘Bhole Baba’. While organizers have been named in an FIR, arrests have yet to be made, though six supporters were apprehended.

Authorities conducted a search at the Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri but did not locate the godman. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site and initiated a judicial probe, appointing a three-member commission led by Justice (retd) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava to investigate within two months and submit findings to the state government.

Initial reports suggest the stampede ensued when devotees attempted to gather soil from the godman’s feet, obstructed by security personnel, triggering a chaotic rush and subsequent tragedy.