One of India’s worst stampedes in recent years took place after about a quarter of a million people flocked to listen to a self-styled guru, far more than the number of 80,000 authorities had permitted.
Tuesday’s preliminary findings of a panel investigating the incident held the event organizers responsible, saying they failed to meet conditions set for the gathering.
“The organizers obtained permission for the event by concealing facts,” the government of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh said in a statement, citing the findings of the panel it set up to look into the matter.
“They did not make adequate and smooth arrangements despite inviting an unexpected crowd, nor did they comply with the conditions set by the local administration.
In response, A.P. Singh, a lawyer for the preacher, denied wrongdoing by organizers, saying they did not conceal anything from authorities, adding instead that the stampede was part of a conspiracy by “anti-social elements” whom he did not identify.
Police have arrested nine people involved in organizing the event, Singh said.
The government said the panel had not ruled out “the possibility of a major conspiracy behind the accident”, but it needed further investigation.
A senior district official in Hathras, the site of the incident, permitted the event without inspecting the venue, the state government added.
Local government and police officials did not take the event seriously and did not inform senior officials about it, the government said in its statement.
“They have been held responsible for negligence in performing their duties,” it added.
The crash happened when devotees ran after the preacher’s departing car, trampling over one another to seek his blessings and get a closer look at him.