OAN’s James Meyers
7:52 AM – Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Over 60 people have been killed and dozens were injured after a stampede took place at a religious event in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, according to authorities.
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It remains unclear what the cause of the stampede was, but reports have begun to surface that it may have been triggered by a bridge collapsing. Meanwhile, authorities are investigating the incident.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy,” said a spokesperson for the Uttar Pradesh government. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families of the deceased, and we are working tirelessly to ensure the injured receive proper medical care.”
“I can’t give the exact toll at the moment, but it is approximately 60 … There is a possibility that the toll may go up,” Manish Chikara, a district police spokesperson, told Reuters by phone.
Additionally, more than 150 people were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Officials are fearful that the number of deaths could increase in the coming days.
According to a survivor, Joti, who goes only by her first name, the stampede happened immediately after the event ended. “Everyone was in a rush to leave; there was no way out and people were falling on each other,” she told reporters.
“People started falling one upon another, one upon another. Those who were crushed died. People there pulled them out,” witness Shakuntala Devi told the Press Trust of India news agency.
Stampedes are actually common during Indian religious festivals, where massive crowds gather in small areas with very few safety precautions in place.
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