Eyewitnesses have recounted scenes of chaos and confusion after a religious festival in northern India ended in tragedy when scores of people were killed in a crowd crush. At least 121 people, predominantly women, lost their lives and 35 others were injured during the overcrowded sermon in Mughal Garhi village, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday.

According to the police, a quarter of a million people unexpectedly arrived at the venue, exceeding the expected number by three times. Shockingly, only a few dozen police officers had been deployed to manage the massive crowd. The unfortunate incident took place as female devotees rushed towards the stage to touch the feet of Bhole Baba, the self-styled godman who led the event, or to collect the ground his car had passed over.

Subhash Lal, a security guard, expressed his anguish as he revealed that his mother had perished in the crush. He criticized the authorities and organizers, stating that "carelessness" was the root cause of the tragedy. Another grieving mother, Kamala, shared that her daughter had initially called to inform them of her safe arrival at the hospital, only to tragically lose her life shortly after.

Survivors have described the chaotic scene, with Rekha stating that the crush occurred after the preaching had ended. She recalled that anyone who fell during the commotion was trampled by the crowd and did not survive. Chedilal, whose daughter was among the victims, recounted his desperate search for her amidst the chaos.

Recognizing the gravity of the incident, Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, has initiated both a special investigative team and a judicial inquiry. Adityanath pointed fingers at the organizers, suggesting that they were responsible for managing the devotees' security internally, while the administration deployed their forces in the outer ring. The police have launched a search for Bhole Baba and have accused the event's organizers of multiple charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

In a statement shared through his lawyer, Bhole Baba expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, attributing the fatal crush to "anti-social elements." The police report revealed that permission had been granted for an event with 80,000 attendees, yet over 250,000 devotees gathered at the venue. It further alleged that the organizers provided no assistance to the injured and attempted to cover up the incident by hiding the lost belongings in a nearby field.

This unfortunate event once again sheds light on the lack of adequate crowd control and safety measures at religious gatherings in India. Crowd crushes have become sadly common and have resulted in numerous fatal incidents in the past. As the investigation commences, questions regarding responsibility and the need for improved safety protocols remain at the forefront.