‘Stampede’ at UP Raksha Bandhan event? Family claims woman died

The family of Madhu Singh, a 45-year-old woman who lived in the Chatipur area of Bareilly, has alleged that she died during a mass Raksha Bandhan celebration at the Bareilly Club Mela Ground. The event, organized by Bareilly Mayor Umesh Gautam, saw around 20,000 women from various parts of the district attend.

According to Madhu's brother-in-law, Anesh Singh, a stampede broke out during the event, causing her breathing difficulties. Her condition worsened, leading to her death. However, Bareilly Mayor Umesh Gautam denies that any such incident occurred during the event, stating that no information was received during the event about any incident. He also noted that the programme concluded peacefully and he learned about the woman's death through the media.

The mayor further asserted that he is unsure whether the woman had attended the event and there was no such incident at the venue. Bareilly Police have stated that they have not received any official information or complaint regarding the alleged death and are currently probing the matter. Circle officer Ashutosh Shivam added that no one has filed any complaint regarding the incident, and they came to know about the matter through different sources.