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Five disastrous stampedes in India that claimed many lives

The disastrous Godavari Pushkaram festival stampede in Rajahmundry isn't the first of its kind in India. We list the disastrous stampedes in the country that took many lives.

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The stampede during the Godavari Pushkaram festival in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh on July 14 is still seeing an increase in the number of deaths. The death toll has reached 29, and more casualties are feared.

We take you through five stampedes in India that led to tragic number of deaths in the past.

1) A stampede broke out at Allahabad railway station, Uttar Pradesh on February 10, 2013 during the Hindu festival of Kumbh mela. The incident killed 36 people and injured at least 39. The 1954 Kumbh mela stampede is considered to be the deadliest, as more than 1,000 people lost their lives.  


The stampede during the Kumbh mela festival in 2013 in Uttar Pradesh had 36 people killed and at least 39 people injured. Reuters.

Yet another stampede took place the same year on October 13 in Datia district in Madhya Pradesh during the Navratri festival. It is said that about five lakh plilgrims had flocked the Ratangarh Mata temple on the day. There were rumours about a bridge over Sindh river about to collapse. Fearing this, the devotees started running hither and thither which led to the stampede. This stampede killed 115 people and injured over 100 people.


The stampede in Datia district killed 115 people and injured over 100 people. Reuters 

2) The Junagadh stampede took place in Gujarat on February 19, 2012 during the Mahashivratri fair at Bhavnath Shiva temple. Nine lakh people were believed to have gathered for the annual five-day fair. The stampede is believed to have begun due to a three-hour traffic jam caused by collision of two state transport buses on the bridge leading to Bhavnath. Due to this, many devotees began going towards Bhavnath from the nearby old Panja Bridge. During that, one person walking on the parapet of the bridge slipped and fell down, triggering the stampede as many others walking behind him and holding one another lost their balance and began to be trampled underfoot in the rush. Seven people were reported dead, while 40 were injured in this incident.



In the Junagadh stampede, seven people were reported dead and and 40 were injured. AFP Photo.

3) The Sabarimala stampede in Kerala occurred on January 14, 2011 killed 102 devotees and left 50 injured. As the devotees walk through a narrow, uneven jungle path, there is no real rescue plan for them. The stampede occurred when a jeep went out of control and hit the devotees. Although, most people were killed due to the stampede.


The Sabarimala stampede in Kerala killed 102 devotees and left 50 injured. Reuters. 

4) The Pratapgarh distict stampede in Uttar Pradesh happened on March 4, 2010. The stampede was believed to have occured due to the mismanagement of the Mangarh ashram of Kripalu Maharaj. An unfinished gate of the temple fell causing panic among the devotees. 63 people were killed and over 100 people were injured. 


The Pratapgarh district stampede in Uttar Pradesh had 63 people killed and over 100 people injured. AFP Photo.

5) The Rajasthan temple stampede occurred on September 30, 2008 at the Chamunda Devi temple where nearly 150 pilgrims were killed and 100 people were injured. The stampede started when the doors of the temple were opened and people tried to push each other to enter.


In the stampede at Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthan, 150 pilgrims were killed and 100 people were injured. AFP Photo.

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