7 Times When Religious Festive Turned Into Sob Of Deaths

BENAGLURU: Indian, a country with inheriting immense amount culture and heritage from generations and the base of social life here is just faith. Hence throughout the year, we celebrate various festivals that attract huge number of gatherings more than elsewhere in the world.

However, some instance have also proved deaths caused as a consequences of assembly of mass crowd at the holy shrines, thus here goes the list of such incidents in which joy of festival turned into a sob of deaths.

1954 Kumbh Mela stampede:

Kumbh Mela, the largest and the biggest pilgrim gathering in the world wherein almost 100 million of pilgrims guttered to bathe in the sacred river Ganga. The 1954, people gathered at the Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, it is estimated that 4 to 5 million pilgrims was the attendance on the day of disaster.

Due to improper masseurs to control the congregation and sudden change in course of flow by the river, which shortened the bank space, stumpages broke out and as per official records; more than 400 lives were lost as an effect.

2003 Kumbh Mela stampede:

27 July to 7 September 2003, kumbh Mela was held at the Nasik, wherein more than 40 piligrims died due to stampede. Some reports claim police action for the death row as it said police held back the crows before barricades, letting Sadhus have the first holy act, this act created disorder among the held back crowd and eventually led to the stumpages.

Mandher Devi temple stampede:

This incident happened at the Satra District Maharashtra, wherein the Mandher Devi is situated and the annual pilgrimage was held on 25 January 2005 and more than 3 million had congregated. As per the eyewitnesses, the stampede broke out when some pilgrims slipped on the steep steps and resulted in death of more than 291 lives.

2008 Jodhpur stampede:

If there is one festival, which the whole nation celebrates, it is Navrathri (Dussehra). All over the country, the Hindu community celebrates this 10 day long festival on account of Lord Rama’s victory over the Evil Ravana.

 In 2008, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, on the same occasion, huge mass had gathered at the Chamunda Devi temple. Subsequently, rumor of bomb planted in the temple spread; hence the stampede occurred and killed more than 221 pilgrims.

2011 Sabarimala stampede:

Sabarimala, one among the most sacred shrines in south India, Which attracts pilgrims form all over the country, particularly from all five south Indian states. Further, generally, on the festive day of Makara Sankranthi, the shrine witnesses the highest gathering every year. The same happened on the 14 January 2011, while a mass crowd was travelling into the forest after the darshan of Makara Joythi, stampede broke out and resulted in unfortunate death of 106 pilgrims, however the reason behind panic is unknown yet.

2013 Madhya Pradesh stampede:

2013 Madhya Pradesh stampede is yet another incident in which Navarthri gathering turned panic and killed 115 people and injuring more than 110. The venue was Ratangarh Mata Temple in Datia district, Madhya Pradesh, wherein about 500,000 pilgrims were estimated to have flocked to the temple on occasion of Navarthri celebrations.

Hence 25,000 people were passing on the bridge to reach the temple and subsequently railing on one side of the bridge broke and created fright and spread the rumor of breakdown of the bridge, resulted in stampede.

Maha Pushkaralu Festival:

Maha Pushkaralu Festival held on the banks of river Godavari this year is most recent instance of mass stampede in the country. 12 days Maha Pushkaralu Festival was organized on the banks of river and it is estimated that more than three crore attendance is recorded.

However on the opening day of the festival the stampede occurred and killed more than 27 pilgrims. Suffocation is reported to be the main reason behind the brutal incident.

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