RAMNAGAR, India (AP) — The orange rising from flames shone a light on the twilight scene. Savitri Devi, 50, had just been cremated.
Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees.
Click to Gallery
RAMNAGAR, India (AP) — The orange rising from flames shone a light on the twilight scene. Savitri Devi, 50, had just been cremated.
Sonam is consoled by relatives after the body of her mother Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, is brought home for cremation in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Villagers watch the cremation of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Ajay Kumar lights the funeral pyre of his mother Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. "My parents believed that Babaji would lift all our burdens," Kumar said, while adding that he also went to religious gatherings of the Baba because it became a family tradition. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Ajay Kumar, left, stands near the funeral pyre of his mother Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. "My parents believed that Babaji would lift all our burdens," Kumar said, while adding that he also went to religious gatherings of the Baba because it became a family tradition. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Bharti Kumari, second left, and Sonam, centre in green, weep as the body of their mother Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, is carried for cremation in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Family members and neighbors carry the body Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, for cremation in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Bharti Kumari, centre, and Sonam, centre right behind Kumari, weep as the body of their mother Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, is carried for cremation in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Sonam weeps as the final rites are performed for her mother Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Family members and neighbors perform the last rites of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Family members and neighbors grieve near the body of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Villagers watch as family members prepare for the last rites of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Family members and neighbors perform the last rites of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Family members accompany the body of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, after receiving it from a mortuary to be taken home for her final rites, near Hathras, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Family members and neighbors perform the last rites of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
The event had been permitted to accommodate only 80,000 people. It’s not clear how many made it inside the giant tent set up in a muddy field in a village in Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh state but they were reported to be about three times the permitted number.
“It was a matter of fate. What does Baba have to do with it?” Vir Pal Singh said about his wife Devi’s passing. Singh was a volunteer at the religious gathering. The couple had been a follower of the Hindu guru, known locally as Bhole Baba, for more than 10 years.
It was not clear what sparked the stampede. The state’s chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, told reporters that a crowd rushed toward the preacher to touch him as he was descending from the stage, and volunteers struggled to intervene.
An initial report from police suggested that thousands of people then thronged the exits and many slipped on the muddy ground, causing them to fall and be crushed. Most of the dead were women.
The chaos appeared to continue outside the tent when people ran toward the preacher as he left in a vehicle. His security guards pushed the crowd back, causing more people to fall, according to officials.
Devi’s daughters Bharti and Sonam were inconsolable. “We’re orphans now. Mother has left us. Who will take care of us?” they wailed. Village women held them and mourned together.
“My parents believed that Babaji (the preacher) would lift all our burdens,” Ajay Kumar said. Kumar, who is a graduate, said he also went to religious gatherings of the Baba because it became a family tradition.
Deadly stampedes are relatively common at Indian religious festivals, where large crowds gather in small areas with shoddy infrastructure and few safety measures.
The family will immerse the ashes in the River Ganges, a Hindu belief that the deceased will attain salvation with this act.
When asked whether he would volunteer at the Baba’s religious events in the future, Singh said “I will decide when the time comes.”
Flames rise from the cremation pyre of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Sonam is consoled by relatives after the body of her mother Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, is brought home for cremation in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Villagers watch the cremation of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Ajay Kumar lights the funeral pyre of his mother Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. "My parents believed that Babaji would lift all our burdens," Kumar said, while adding that he also went to religious gatherings of the Baba because it became a family tradition. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Ajay Kumar, left, stands near the funeral pyre of his mother Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. "My parents believed that Babaji would lift all our burdens," Kumar said, while adding that he also went to religious gatherings of the Baba because it became a family tradition. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Bharti Kumari, second left, and Sonam, centre in green, weep as the body of their mother Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, is carried for cremation in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Family members and neighbors carry the body Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, for cremation in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Bharti Kumari, centre, and Sonam, centre right behind Kumari, weep as the body of their mother Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, is carried for cremation in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Sonam weeps as the final rites are performed for her mother Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Family members and neighbors perform the last rites of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Family members and neighbors grieve near the body of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Villagers watch as family members prepare for the last rites of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Family members and neighbors perform the last rites of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Family members accompany the body of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, after receiving it from a mortuary to be taken home for her final rites, near Hathras, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Family members and neighbors perform the last rites of Savitri Devi, 50, who died during a stampede, in Ramnagar, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Devi was among more than 120 people who died in a stampede last week at a religious festival in northern India, as the faithful surged toward the preacher and chaos ensued among the attendees. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
