Dozens killed in mass panic at religious event in India

According to official reports, more than 50 people were killed in a mass panic during a religious gathering in northern India.

The incident occurred at a satsang (a Hindu religious event) in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh state.

“The doctors have reported to me a figure of about 50 to 60 deaths,” said Ashish Kumar, the district magistrate of Hathras.

The identification of the victims, including more than 20 women, has not yet been completed.

What led to the mass panic is still unclear.

Ashish Kumar, a senior official, said a high-level committee had been formed to investigate the incident.

“The government’s main focus is to provide all possible assistance to the injured and the families of the deceased,” he said.

The crowd had gathered for an event in honor of the Hindu deity Shiva in the village of Mughalgarhi.

A video shared by news agency PTI showed the injured being taken to a hospital for treatment.

“The autopsy is underway and the case is being investigated,” said officer Satya Prakash in neighboring Etah district.

Disturbing images from the scene of the accident are circulating on the Internet.

Some videos showed the injured being taken to hospitals in pick-up trucks, tuk tuks and even motorbikes. One clip obtained by the BBC shows several bodies left outside the entrance to a local hospital as relatives screamed for help.

Accidents often occur at religious events in India because large crowds of people gather in a small space and safety precautions are rarely observed.

In 2018, around 60 people were killed when a train ploughed into a crowd watching celebrations for the Hindu festival of Dussera.

In 2013, 115 people were killed in a mass panic during a Hindu festival in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

Additional reporting by Abhishek Mathur in Hathras

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be released shortly. Please refresh the page to see the full version.

You can receive current news on your smartphone or tablet via the BBC News AppYou can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts.