Stampede in narrow, slippery passage leading to Chamunda temple



JODHPUR: At least 147 people were killed and 67 others were critically injured in a stampede triggered by severe overcrowding in a narrow, slippery passage at the Chamunda temple in Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort early Tuesday morning.



Thousands of devotees had gathered at the famous temple of Goddess Chamunda to offer prayers on the first day of the nine-day Navratri festival. The temple is inside the massive 15th century fort built on a hillock overlooking the city.



Most of the killed were teenagers and youths. The administration had arranged a separate passage for the women and children and, as such, the casualties were considerably restricted.



“There has been no casualty in the queue for women in which a large number of children were also present,” Inspector General of Police (Jodhpur), Rajiv Dasot said.



Police said initial reports indicated that coconut water spilled on the narrow incline to the temple lead people to slip and trample upon one another. Thousands of devotees carrying coconuts for the deity smashed these open in the passage itself as they inched towards the sanctum sanctorum around 5:30 am.



Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said, “There was a huge rush in the queue for men and some people slipped causing panic and stampede.” Eyewitnesses told reporters that as some devotees slipped on the 75-metre slope, others fell on them causing the stampede.



Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje flew to the city and ordered an nquiry by a former high court judge. The state government has announced a compensation of Rs2 lakh each for the kin of the dead and Rs50,000 for the injured.



The incident sent a shock wave throughout the city and hospitals remained crowded through the day with the families and relatives of the dead and the injured.



For almost an hour after the incident the road from the Fort to the government hospital was filled with ambulances and other vehicles transporting bodies and the wounded. The Army was called for assistance.



The hospital arrangement too took a beating under such a large rush of people. Irked at the poor arrangement, family members and relatives of the victims manhandled the Jodhpur BJP MP Jaswant Singh Vishnoi who had gone to see the wounded. Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot too visited the hospitals.