NEW DELHI: A 'Satsang' gathering in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras addressed by self-styled godman Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari known as Bhole Baba, turned tragic when a stampede at a religious congregation killed about 116 people, most of them women and over half a dozen children as they suffocated to their deaths. Authorities are not ruling out more deaths as several people who are in hospitals being treated are seriously injured. 

As of now, there are various accounts that are attributed to the tragic incident at the event in Phulrai village of Hathras. Some accounts are saying people slipped in the slush as they ran after the preacher's car, triggering the stampede, while some others are saying that when the satsang ended tens of thousands of people rushed out to take Baba's blessings while others were rushing in from the opposite directions. 

Some eyewitnesses are quoted on some news networks saying that many rushed to collect the sold on which the Baba had walked and slipped due to the uneven path while others fell on them leading to a stampede and trapping hundreds of people under each other. As the locals began rescue operations later joined by authorities, hundreds of bodies were seen piled atop each other in vehicles being taken to hospitals. 

According to officials, organisers of the event known as 'sewakdars' in Phulrai village had intimated to the police that around 80,000 people were likely to attend the event however apparently many more devotees turned up leading to chaos and ultimately stampede. 

The District Magistrate Ashish Kumar has confirmed to news agencies that the 'Satsang' was a private event for which the sub-divisional magistrate had granted permission and the local administration provided security outside the venue while the arrangements inside were made by the organisers. UP's CM Yogi Adityanath has given instructions to the district administration to first provide all assistance to the victims, especially to the injured and is himself heading toward the area to take first-hand stock of the situation.