Hathras stampede: In India, there is a tradition of large religious gatherings in rural regions. Often, thousands of devotees throng to a squeezed place, with no basic facilities-- not even entry or exit points in case of emergency. Sometimes, the organisers of these events lack proper communication with the local authorities. This often resulted in the deadly stampede. The same was witnessed in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, nearly 200 km from the national capital, New Delhi, where 116 people were killed in one of the deadliest stampede incidents on Tuesday. The death count may increase.
This is not the first time that a large number of people died in stampedes at temples and other religious gatherings over the years in India. Some of the largest casualties caused by stampedes at religious gatherings include the death of more than 340 devotees at Maharashtra's Mandhardevi temple in 2005 and at least 250 were killed at Rajasthan's Chamunda Devi temple in 2008.
A stampede at a religious gathering at Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh caused the loss of lives of 162 people in 2008.
Here are the major stampede events in India
Kumbh Mela Stampede (1954): One of the deadliest stampedes in history occurred during the Kumbh Mela festival in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh. Over 800 people were reported dead when pilgrims stampeded on a narrow bridge across the Ganges River.
Mecca Masjid Stampede (2007): During Friday prayers at the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana), a stampede occurred resulting in the death of 16 people and injuries to many more.
March 31, 2023: At least 36 people died when the slab constructed on top of an ancient 'bawdi' or well collapsed during a 'havan' programme held on the occasion of Ram Navami at a temple in Indore city.
January 1, 2022: At least 12 people died and over a dozen were injured in a stampede at the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir triggered by a heavy rush of devotees.
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.
October 3, 2014: Thirty-two people were killed and 26 others injured in a stampede at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, shortly after the Dussehra celebrations ended.
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.
November 19, 2012: Around 20 people were killed and many others injured as a makeshift bridge caved in, triggering a stampede during the Chhath Puja at Adalat Ghat on the bank of river Ganga in Patna.
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.
January 14, 2011: At least 104 Sabarimala devotees were killed and over 40 were injured in a stampede when a jeep crashed into homebound pilgrims at Pulmedu in Kerala's Idukki district.
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.
September 30, 2008: Nearly 250 devotees were killed and over 60 injured in a stampede triggered by rumours of bomb going off at Chamunda Devi temple in Rajasthan's Jodhpur city.
August 3, 2008: 162 dead, 47 injured in a stampede triggered by rumours of rockslides at Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district.
January 25, 2005: Over 340 devotees were trampled to death and hundreds injured during an annual pilgrimage at Mandhardevi temple in Maharashtra's Satara district. The accident occurred when some people fell down on the steps made slippery by the devotees breaking coconuts.
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.
(With inputs from agency)
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