NEW DELHI: More than 100 people were killed and several others were injured in a stampede at a religious congregation in a village in Hathras district on Tuesday.
This tragic incident is not an isolated event, as stampedes at religious gatherings have caused numerous deaths in India over the years.
In recent years, several other tragedies have resulted from stampedes at religious sites, here’s all you need to know:
This tragic incident is not an isolated event, as stampedes at religious gatherings have caused numerous deaths in India over the years.
In recent years, several other tragedies have resulted from stampedes at religious sites, here’s all you need to know:
- Some of the deadliest
incidents include a stampede at Maharashtra’s Mandhardevi temple in 2005, which claimed over 340 lives and another at Rajasthan’s Chamunda Devi temple in 2008, resulting in at least 250 deaths. - On March 31, 2023, at least 36 people perished when a slab constructed atop an ancient ‘bawdi’ or well collapsed during a ‘havan’ program at a temple in Indore city.
- On January 1, 2022, a heavy rush of devotees at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir led to a stampede that killed at least 12 people and injured over a dozen others.
- On July 14, 2015, twenty-seven pilgrims died and 20 others were injured in a stampede at a major bathing spot on the banks of the Godavari river where a huge crowd of devotees had gathered on the opening day of ‘Pushkaram’ festival in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh.
- On October 3, 2014, just after Dussehra celebrations concluded, a stampede at Gandhi Maidan resulted in 32 deaths and left 26 others injured in Patna
- On October 13, 2013, 115 people were killed and over 100 injured in a stampede during the Navratri festivities near Ratangarh temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia district. The stampede was triggered by rumours that a river bridge the devotees were crossing was about to collapse.
- On November 19, 2012, during the Chhath Puja at Adalat Ghat on the Ganga riverbank in Patna a makeshift bridge gave way, leading to a stampede that killed around 20 people and injured many others.
- On November 8, 2011, at least 20 people were killed in a stampede in Haridwar at Har-ki-Pauri ghat on banks of the Ganga river.
- On January 14, 2011, in Sabarimala in Kerala’s Idukki district, a jeep crashed into returning pilgrims at Pulmedu, causing a stampede that claimed the lives of at least 104 devotees and injured over 40.
- On March 4, 2010, about 63 people were killed in a stampede at Ram Janki Temple of Kripalu Maharaj in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh district as people gathered to collect free clothes and food from the self-styled godman.
- On September 30, 2008, in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur city , rumours of a bomb triggered a stampede at Chamunda Devi temple, killing nearly 250 devotees and injuring over 60 others.
- A stampede at a religious gathering at Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh caused the loss of lives of 162 people in 2008.
- On January 25, 2005, at the Mandhardevi temple in Maharashtra’s Satara district, over 340 devotees were trampled to death and hundreds were injured when some people fell on the steps made slippery by devotees breaking coconuts.
- On August 27, 2003, 39 people were killed and around 140 injured in a stampede during the holy bath at the Kumbh Mela in Maharashtra’s Nashik district.
These incidents underscore the recurring tragedy of stampedes during religious gatherings in India.
Despite efforts to control crowds and ensure safety, the situations often become chaotic due to the sheer number of attendees, leading to significant casualties and highlighting the need for improved safety measures at such events.