SIKANDARA RAO: In the wake of the tragic stampede in Phulwari village in Hathras district, the only and closest hospital was the Sikandra Rao Trauma Centre. On Tuesday, 2 July, this old, rustic, small, antiquated facility, with a capacity of no more than 10-15 beds, struggled to manage the overwhelming influx of patients.
More than 92 dead bodies, mostly women and children, were laid on the floor of the hospital’s front open entrance compound.
Dr Sandeep Pal, the Senior Medical Officer on duty, recounted the harrowing events and told The New Indian, “At least 91 individuals were brought here already dead. The actual number could be much higher since many were unidentified. About 40 people sustained injuries; we referred approximately 22-23 for further treatment and provided primary care to 16 others with minor injuries.”
ALSO READ: Hathras: Police Officer injured in deadly stampede at satsang – THE NEW INDIAN
The hospital was unprepared for the unprecedented scene of devastation. Neither it nor any other hospital was notified when the satsang, which witnessed more than 4 lakh people with only 80,000 permitted, occurred.
The laxity of the organisers and self-styled godman Suraj Pal, aka Narayan Saakar Hari, renowned as Bhole Baba, who was addressing the crowd with very little police presence, contributed to the tragedy. He is currently nowhere to be found.
A nurse who witnessed the influx of casualties said that the hospital had never handled such a large number of patients at once.
ALSO READ: Hathras: 5-year-old child; grandmother survive deadly stampede – THE NEW INDIAN
Dr. Pal added, “We had no prior information about the situation. Initially, we received 3-4 patients and attended to them. Shortly after that, a seemingly endless stream of patients arrived all at once, so many that it was impossible to keep count.”
Among the victims was Prabhudayal’s elder sister, a 48-year-old woman, who had been unconscious since the stampede. Prabhudayal shared his distress: “She has severe internal injuries and is unable to speak. The uncontrollable crowd, combined with muddy, slippery roads, caused many to slip, fall, and be trampled by thousands.”
Many who attended the satsang in search of God in the form of Bhole Baba, coming from distant villages with young children and babies, were lost and remained unidentified, having suffocated to death.