India: More than 100 killed in stampede during religious gathering

An Indian government official announced that 116 people were killed and dozens injured on Tuesday in a stampede during a Hindu religious gathering in the north of the country.

Local media reported on Tuesday that a stampede during a religious event killed at least 116 people, including women and children.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chitra V, the commissioner of Aligarh city in Uttar Pradesh state, said: "We have confirmed 97 deaths so far and we are focusing on providing relief and medical assistance to the victims," ​​while an official told an Indian television channel that at least 107 people were killed in the stampede.

Local news channel NDTV reported that the dead in the accident, which took place in the Hathras district, included women and children.

For its part, the local police said that an investigation is underway to uncover the circumstances of the incident, and the identities of the dead have been identified.

State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath commented on the incident, saying that "the loss of lives is unfortunate" and expressed his sympathy with the families of the victims.

While Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced that "the local administration is providing all possible assistance to all the victims, under the supervision of the state government."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to the families of the victims, expressing his sympathy with them.

Videos spread across the X platform showed scenes of victims’ bodies lying on the ground, and others of victims being transported in vehicles, while those present appeared shocked and sad.