On a fateful Tuesday in Pulrai village, Hathras district, a religious festival turned tragic, claiming over 120 lives in one of the worst crowd crushes India has seen in years. The event, led by the controversial guru Bhole Baba, real name Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari, drew nearly three times the number of attendees than permitted, leading to a catastrophic failure of crowd control and event planning.
The Incident:
Originally sanctioned for 80,000 attendees, the gathering saw an unexpected surge to 250,000, resulting in chaos as the crowd surged towards the preacher’s vehicle as he departed. Eyewitness accounts describe a frantic scramble that led to devastating falls and a fatal pile-up, predominantly affecting women and children.
The Aftermath:
Shocking scenes emerged from Pulrai, as makeshift transports ferried the injured to local hospitals. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage, raising urgent questions about the adequacy of safety measures at mass gatherings and the responsibilities of those organising and leading such large-scale events.
The Response:
In the wake of the tragedy, police have detained six individuals linked to the event’s organisation. Meanwhile, Bhole Baba, through his lawyer, has denied any wrongdoing, attributing the disaster to “anti-social elements” and a “criminal conspiracy.” Such defences, however, sidestep the crucial issues of accountability and preventive measures in managing public safety.
The narrative spun by Bhole Baba’s legal team is telling. By deflecting blame onto unseen malevolent forces, it obscures the more mundane—and more controllable—factors at play, such as adequate planning and crowd control. This tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the potential human cost of negligence and the dire need for stringent regulatory oversight over public gatherings.
As India mourns the loss of lives, it is imperative that this moment becomes a catalyst for change. Strengthening the enforcement of safety protocols at gatherings and ensuring strict compliance by event organisers must be prioritised to prevent such tragedies in the future. For Bhole Baba and his associates, cooperation with law enforcement is just the first step in a long process of public and legal scrutiny that should follow.
Further Reading
