Friday, 05 July 2024
Friday, 05 July 2024
‘Come to Pilua police station, Chhota is no more’
Satyendra Yadav, a 29-year-old driver from Delhi, mourned his three-year-old son, Rovin, who died in a stampede at the Hathras congregation.
Yadav, who attended the 'satsang' with his family, recounted to PTI: "We never thought that such an incident would take place." He had received a call from his wife, who just said: "Pilua thaane aa jaao, Chhota khatam ho gayaa hai" [Come to Pilua police station, Chhota is no more].”
Rovin, affectionately called Chhota, was among the victims of the stampede, who number at least 121. The family reached the event early Tuesday morning, and Rovin's last rites were performed at night.
Children dead, relative can’t break the news to the father
A bus journey from Jaipur, Rajasthan, to the event on Monday evening proved fatal for siblings Kaavya (3) and Ayush (9).
Ramlakhan, who was with his brother-in-law Anad, the children’s father, in the bus, had not yet shared the tragic news with Anad. "I learned about the tragic incident around 5 pm. Kaavya and Ayush had gone to the 'satsang' with my wife, their paternal aunt…The children and family left Jaipur on Monday evening and arrived by 6 am," Ramlakhan told PTI. "I was very attached to both children and spoke to them on Sunday. This is a very tragic incident for our family, something we never expected. They had attended 'satsang' events before."
‘It's only the poor who meets this fate, not the rich’
Ruby, 35, died while attending the 'satsang' by Baba Narayan Hari with her five year-old son.
"She was married in Buxar area of Unnao. We came for the satsang together," Ruby’s father, Chhedi Lal, told PTI. Lal recounted the stampede: "From Tuesday afternoon I started looking for her, going from one place to another…I reached this hospital in the morning today [Wednesday] only to find my daughter dead and my grandson missing."
Ruby’s brother and sister-in-law Rajkumari Devi traveled from Unnao district with her husband to see the body. "We are yet to find [Ruby’s son]. More of our family members are on their way to Hathras," she said.
When asked about her demands from the government, Rajkumari responded: "There's nothing [to ask for]. It's only the poor who meets this fate, not the rich."
Railway restrictions imposed in Hathras
Around 3,000 people are waiting to return home after the ‘satsang’.
A speed restriction of 15 kmph has been imposed on all trains passing through the Sikandar Rau station, the railway ministry told PTI.
Besides, many trains such as Mathura-Tanakpur Fair Special, Agra Fort-Kasganj Passenger Special and Bandra Terminus Antyodaya Express have been given extra stoppage at the Sikandar Rau station as well as special stoppage at other stations along the train route for the convenience of passengers.
"A medical team under the supervision of Dr Saurabh Dandiyal has been set up at the site for such passengers who need first-aid treatment or any sort of medical intervention," the railway ministry said in a statement on Tuesday night. "We have kept three empty coaches ready at Kasganj station to move as special trains towards Sikandar Rau Station if needed.”
UP chief minister Adityanath meets the injured
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath on Wednesday met those who were injured in the Hathras stampede, a senior government official told PTI.
"The chief minister held a meeting with officials in the circuit house and met the injured in district hospitals," the official told the news agency.
A team consisting of ADG Agra and Aligarh Divisional Commissioner has been constituted to inquire into the cause of the incident. The report is likely to be submitted on Wednesday, the government said.
FIR against organisers of Hathras satsang
The Uttar Pradesh police on Wednesday registered an FIR against the organisers of the congregation, accusing them of hiding evidence and flouting conditions with 2.5 lakh people gathering for the event in which only 80,000 were permitted.
The congregation or 'satsang' conductor Jagat Guru Saakar Vishwahari's name does not figure in the list of accused in the FIR, though his name is in the complaint, according to PTI.
The FIR alleges that the organisers hid the actual number of devotees coming to the 'satsang' while seeking permission, did not cooperate in traffic management and hid evidence after the stampede.
On Tuesday, Adityanath said, "Our government will get to the bottom of this incident and give appropriate punishment to the conspirators and those responsible. The state government is investigating this entire incident. We will see whether it is an accident or a conspiracy."
