Fulrai Mugalgadi, India – In a distressing incident earlier this month, over a quarter-million pilgrims gathered for a spiritual event led by Baba Bhole in Fulrai Mugalgadi village, which turned tragic when a stampede broke out, resulting in several fatalities and injuries. Police investigations have now shed light on the lack of assistance provided to vulnerable attendees amidst the chaos.
The majority of attendees at the July 2 satsang were women, with a significant number of elders and children. As the event wrapped up, dense crowds moving toward the highway sparked panic. Struggling to breathe amid the crush, desperate cries for help were met not with aid but chants, as volunteers told them to rely on spiritual invocations for relief.
Initial police reports and eyewitness accounts indicate that repeated cries for assistance from elderly women largely went ignored by sevadars (volunteers) who insisted on chanting as a form of help. One poignant case involved Gomti, a woman with pre-existing health conditions from Jharkhand, who fainted after her pleas for assistance were disregarded by sevadars.
Similarly, 60-year-old Brahmo Devi, suffering from diabetes, found her appeals for help brushed aside, with volunteers advising that spiritual chants would suffice. Tragically, many attendees experienced severe distress without receiving the needed physical assistance or essentials like water, despite the sweltering conditions.
Authorities have taken six volunteers into custody following admissions that the event was poorly managed for its unexpected size. The suspects acknowledged that they were overwhelmed by the crowd, particularly when Baba Bhole’s convoy moved through, which markedly escalated the panic leading to the stampede.
Shalabh Mathiur, the local Inspector General of Police, detailed that after realizing the extent of the casualties, the arrested volunteers fled the scene and attempted to evade capture before they were arrested. In a shocking disregard for transparency, these volunteers also confiscated mobile devices of locals trying to document the incident, stating they were following orders to prevent unofficial recordings.
The community response has been one of mourning and outrage, with calls for improved management of such large gatherings and accountability from religious leaders to ensure the safety of their congregations. This tragedy has highlighted the potential dangers of inadequate preparation and management at mass events, prompting a review of safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
As the village mourns, the incident raises broader questions about safety measures and responsibilities at large religious gatherings, where the wellbeing of attendees can sometimes be overshadowed by spiritual fervor.