Relatives of the victims of a tragic crowd crush during a Hindu religious gathering in northern India have accused the authorities of gross negligence, stating that their loved ones were left to die in the mud and on hospital floors due to a severe lack of medical staff and ambulances. The incident occurred on Tuesday during a religious gathering held in Hathras, where more than 250,000 devotees had gathered to participate in the event organized by spiritual guru Bhole Baba.

The chaotic situation arose when devotees surged forward, causing panic and resulting in many falling over in the wet conditions. Most of the victims, tragically, were women and children as the crush unfolded in a women-only section of the gathering. According to eyewitnesses and relatives of the victims, the response from the police, authorities, and hospital was slow and ineffective.

Authorities have reported that six individuals, four men, and two women, who were aides to Baba and involved in organizing the event, have been arrested. It has been revealed that the permission for the event was granted for only 80,000 people, which stands in stark contrast to the actual attendance of more than three times that number. Local organizers have been held responsible for the unmanageable crowd.

Relatives and witnesses, however, have pointed fingers at the police, authorities, and a hospital for their alleged failure to provide timely and adequate assistance during the fatal crush. Many families resorted to digging through the mud themselves to locate the dead and injured, as there was a severe lack of ambulances, paramedics, and police presence on-site.

Hari Singh, a construction worker, shared his harrowing experience of searching for his wife, Rekha, amidst the chaos. Singh vividly describes the absence of medical staff, police, or ambulances as he encountered multiple lifeless bodies and injured individuals gasping for breath. He eventually found his wife unconscious, half-buried in the mud, and had to carry her to the hospital in a rickshaw—an arduous journey that saved her life, but left her with severe injuries.

Other survivors expressed their grievances, claiming that the injured were left unattended on hospital floors due to a dire shortage of beds and doctors. Shockingly, some alleged that several lives were lost due to the lack of immediate medical attention. The overwhelmed hospital's capacity was quickly exceeded, with the morgue meant for six bodies overflowing with the dead.

Dr. Surya Prakash, the medical superintendent of the district hospital in Hathras, admitted that they were unprepared to handle such a catastrophic event. He cited the panic and the overwhelming crowd as significant hindrances in managing the situation effectively. The shortage of staff also hampered their ability to provide proper medical care to the injured.

Anuj Kumar, a resident who rushed to the scene, recounted how he and other villagers used local transport to transport the dead and injured to the hospital. He noted the absence of ambulances and doctors upon their arrival, leading to tragic deaths even as some were still showing signs of life.

The lack of responsibility and preparedness in the wake of this tragedy has sparked outrage among the affected families and communities. Many are demanding accountability from the authorities and justice for the lives lost.

The whereabouts of spiritual guru Bhole Baba, also known as Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari, remain unknown since the incident. His lawyer released a statement suggesting that "antisocial elements" were responsible for inciting panic.

As investigations continue, the devastating event serves as a somber reminder of the need for better crowd management strategies and comprehensive emergency response protocols to prevent such tragedies in the future.