Hathras Stampede Horror: Rahul Gandhi Writes to UP CM Yogi, Seeks Increase in Compensation

New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday, July 7 wrote to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi and urged him to increase the compensation for Hathras stampede victims and their families.

This comes after the leader of the opposition met the victims' families affected.

"After meeting the victim families affected by the stampede accident in Hathras, feeling their grief and knowing their problems, I informed the Honorable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath ji about them through a letter," Gandhi said in a post on X.

"Urged the Chief Minister to increase the compensation amount and provide it to the bereaved families as soon as possible."

"They need our collective condolences and support in this hour of grief," he added.

This comes as the Uttar Pradesh government announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of each deceased, while Rs 1 lakh for the ones injured.

What Led To Hathras Stampede?  

While the exact cause of the stampede is yet to be determined, it is believed that overcrowding led to a panic situation. The situation was worsened by the scorching heat and humid weather conditions, which caused suffocation.

This resulted in claustrophobia prompting people to rush towards the exit, triggering the stampede.  

"There was a Satsang of Bhole Baba going on. Right after the Satsang finished, several people started coming out from there. A stampede took place as the road was uneven and people fell on each other...", Shakuntala Devi, an eyewitness in the Hathras stampede incident said.  

According to Sikandra Rao sub-divisional magistrate Ravindra Kumar, the stampede took place when devotees tried to get a glimpse of Bhole Baba as the event ended. They also wanted to collect some soil from around the baba’s feet.

Following the horrifying incident, the Uttar Pradesh government on July 3 formed a three-member judicial commission headed by a retired high court judge to probe the Hathras tragedy and to look into the possibility of a conspiracy behind the stampede.

(with PTI inputs)