Stampede at religious event in UP's Meerut, several injured as crowd rushes

A stampede occurred on Friday, December 20, at Pandit Pradeep Mishra's Shiv Mahapuran Katha event in Shatabdi Nagar, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, at approximately 1 p.m. The incident resulted in several injuries, though no fatalities have been reported. Over one lakh devotees were attending the event, which has been ongoing for six days and draws large crowds daily.

The stampede reportedly began when private security personnel, who were stationed at the entry gates, tried to stop women from entering the venue. This caused a rush among attendees as the crowd surged forward. Many people fell during the incident, with numerous women and elderly individuals among those injured.

Meerut District Magistrate Deepak Meena confirmed that no deaths had occurred and stated that the situation was quickly controlled. “No serious injuries have been reported. Medical teams were on-site providing assistance to those who were injured,” Meena said. Senior Superintendent of Police Vipin Tada also added that first aid was administered to the injured, and many were sent to nearby hospitals for further treatment.

The stampede occurred as attendees attempted to leave the venue, crowding the entry gate in the process. Despite separate gates being assigned for entry and exit, the gates were not followed properly, and as the crowd inside the venue grew, many people pushed toward the entry gate to exit, fearing a worse situation. The overcrowding, combined with confusion at the gates, caused a surge that led to the stampede.

The event had attracted a large number of devotees from across Meerut and nearby districts, with an estimated 100,000 people attending the gathering daily. Additional Director General of Meerut Zone, Dhruv Kant Thakur, confirmed that police were investigating the cause of the incident and that the event’s security arrangements would be reviewed. The authorities emphasized that the crowd was larger than expected, with security personnel struggling to manage the surging crowd.

This incident follows a similar disaster in July 2024, when a stampede killed 121 people in Hathras district during a satsang event by self-styled godman Bhole Baba. In that case, the crowd exceeded the permissible number of attendees, contributing to the chaos. Uttar Pradesh authorities are now reviewing crowd management protocols and security measures to prevent future incidents at large public events.