Stampede at Rakshabandhan event in Bareilly, one woman dead, three injured

August 28, 2026

Bareilly: A stampede-like situation occurred during an event held at the Bareilly Club Ground on Thursday on the occasion of Rakshabandhan. A 45-year-old woman died and at least three other women were injured due to the sudden surge in the crowd.

The event was organized by Bareilly Mayor Umesh Gautam and his son Parth Gautam.

Woman dies on way to hospital

The deceased has been identified as 45-year-old Madhu. She was the wife of former army man Bhagwan Singh, a resident of Chandragupta Puram on Pilibhit Bypass Road.

Madhu was rushed to Mission Hospital after being severely injured by the pressure of the crowd, but died on the way. Doctors declared her dead on arrival. The distance from Bareilly Club to Mission Hospital is reported to be less than 2 kilometers.

Three other women injured in the accident were taken to the district hospital, where they were discharged after first aid.

Crowds Moved Towards the Stage

The event, organized by the Yuva Sewak Sangh and the Parth Gautam Foundation, began around 10 a.m. For the first few hours, the program proceeded normally. A large number of women from the city and surrounding tehsils arrived to tie Rakhi to the mayor and his son.

This year, the organizers invited approximately 20,000 women, compared to approximately 15,000 last year. Gifts and food were also arranged for the women attending the event. The crowd swelled further as men and children joined the women.

Around 3 p.m., the number of women moving towards the stage suddenly increased, leading to a situation of jostling and chaos. According to officials, appeals were made from the stage to the public for patience and cooperation, but the situation could not be fully controlled.

Family raises questions about security arrangements

The deceased’s brother, Anesh Singh, said that his sister had gone to the event with some women from the neighborhood and was caught in the chaos of the crowd.

He alleged that adequate security and crowd management arrangements were not made given the large crowd expected at the event.

No formal statement has yet been issued by the police or local administration regarding the incident.