Stampedes: India
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
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India and the world
1990-2022
From: Oct 31, 2022: The Times of India
See graphic:
Some of world's worst stampedes, 1990- Oct 2022
City-/ state-wise
Delhi: 2004-2024
From: February 16, 2025: The Times of India
See graphic:
Stampedes in Delhi: 2004-2024
Filmstar stampedes
2003-2025
From: Sep 28, 2025: The Times of India
See graphic:
Filmstar stampedes in India, 2003-2025
Major stampedes: 2001-17
From September 30, 2017 The Times of India
See graphic, Major stampedes in India, 2001-17
Major stampedes
2005-15
The Hindu, September 25, 2015 11:49 IST
A look at the number of lives lost in stampedes during pilgrimages in India over 2005-15
Over 700 pilgrims were killed and 863 were injured on Thursday in a crush at Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Makkah, where some two million people are performing the annual haj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia's civil defence authority said.
The pilgrimage, the world's largest annual gathering of people, has been the scene of deadly disasters in the past, including stampedes, tent fires and riots.
Major stampedes at pilgrimages in India over the last decade
2005
The Mandiradevi Temple, Maharashtra
About 300 people, mostly women and children, were killed in a stampede on the narrow road leading to the Kalubai temple in Mandradevi, 18 km from Wai in Maharashtra's Satara district.
300 dead
2008
The Naina Devi Temple, Himachal Pradesh
A slender trail leading to the famous hilltop Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh saw a stampede triggering due to rumours of a landslip uphill, as terrified people started running down.
146 dead
230 injured
The Chamunda Devi Temple, Jodhpur
The Chamunda Devi temple is on a hillock adjoining the Mehrangarh Fort. The victims were either trampled to death or had died of suffocation.
200+ dead
400+ injured
2011
The Sabarimala Temple, Kerala
The tragedy had occurred around 9 pm when pilgrims were returning after witnessing the ‘Makarajyothi’ from the grassland area (Pulmedu), about 12 km from Sabarimala.
102 dead
100+ injured
2013
The Kumbh Mela, Allahabad
Those caught in the stampede at the Allahabad railway station during the Kumbh Mela, blamed it on police action, mismanagement and lack of immediate relief.
36 dead
39 injured
Ratangarh Mata Temple, Madhya Pradesh
The stampede broke out on a bridge near the Ratangarh Mata temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia district, due to a rumour that a section of the bridge had collapsed.
115 dead
110+ injured
2015
Godavari Maha Pushakaram, Andhra Pradesh
The tragedy occurred when thousands of pilgrims who were kept back while VIPs performed their pujas, were suddenly let out to the bathing ghat. It exposed the failure of the crowd management systems.
27 dead
36 injured
August 2015: Stampede in Deoghar, Jharkhand
The Times of India, August 11, 2015
Jaideep Deogharia & Pravin Mishra
Ten devotees were killed and 70 injured in a stampede on August 10, 2015 at Baba Baidyanath Dham temple in Deoghar in Jharkhand, where thousands of pilgrims had queued up to offer water at the shivalinga on the second somvar, coinci ding with ekadashi, both con sidered auspicious for Hin dus. A communique from the state headquarters said the stampede occurred when a group of kanwariyas tried to force themselves forward. the stampede took place at Belabagan, 10 km from the temple premises, be tween 3:30 and 4am when a po liceman used his stick to dis perse the kanwariays heading towards the temple premises.
2024, 2025
Dipak.Dash, Nov 2, 2025: The Times of India
From: Dipak.Dash, Nov 2, 2025: The Times of India
New Delhi: Stampedes, categorised as avoidable accidents, have claimed at least 114 lives so far this year, marking the second-highest toll in recent years. In 2024, at least 123 people lost their lives in such incidents, with the crowd crush in Hathras, UP, alone accounting for 116 deaths at the end of a satsang conducted by self-styled godman Narayan Sakar Hari.
The stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, was the sixth such incident this year. Experts have often pointed out that the absence of proper crowd control mechanisms, poor communication, and inadequate emergency response systems aggravate such situations. Authorities frequently underestimate the expected number of attendees, leading to overcrowding and chaos.
There have been five major stampedes that occurred earlier this year. On January 29, during the Mahakumbh, 30 people lost their lives. On February 15, at the New Delhi Railway Station, 18 people died in a stampede. In North Goa’s Shirgao village, seven devotees were killed when lakhs had gathered to participate in the annual Lairai Jatra at the Shree Lairai Devi Temple. On June 4, 11 fans died and several others were injured in a stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, during celebrations of RCB’s maiden IPL win.
The most recent tragedy occurred in Karur, Tamil Nadu, where at least 39 people died during a rally organised by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and popular actor Vijay.
