The death toll from a stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state Tuesday has risen to 121 people.
District Magistrate Ashish Kumar told reporters the stampede occurred at a village about 200 kilometers southeast of India’s capital, New Delhi, as a large crowd rushed to leave a Hindu event known as a satsang, organized by local religious leader Bhole Baba.
A police report said about 250,000 people had crowded into a makeshift tent where the event was held, far exceeding the limit of 80,000 allowed by local officials.
Various reports say the stampede began as worshippers followed Bhole Baba out of the tent as he was leaving. Many of the attendees slipped on the muddy ground and fell into a water-logged ditch and were crushed to death when others fell on top of them.
One local official told the French news agency AFP that a dust storm also may have blinded people as they attempted to leave the area.
Most of the victims were women and children. Dozens of others were injured in the tragedy.
In a statement on his X social media account, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, Mahant Yogi Adityanath, said he has formed a team to investigate.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an appearance before the Indian parliament Tuesday, said he was deeply saddened and stressed he would “help the injured in every possible way.”
Deadly stampedes are relatively common during Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas with few safety measures.
