Severe overcrowding and a lack of exits contributed to the deadly stampede at an Indian festival

Associated Press

HATHRAS, India (AP) — Authorities in India say severe overcrowding and a lack of exits contributed to a stampede at a religious festival that left at least 121 people dead. Nearly a quarter of a million people attended Tuesday’s event. As police search for the organizers, an attorney for the preacher says he will cooperate with authorities. The chaos began as the faithful surged toward the preacher to touch him. Deadly stampedes are relatively common at Indian religious festivals with few safety measures. Tuesday’s event had been permitted to accommodate only 80,000 people.