Temple stampedes in himachal pradesh
Temple Stampedes:The State of Himachal has large number of Hindu temples as pilgrimage centres. According to some estimates there are more than 2000 temples in the State. Some of the temples in the State like JawalaMukhi&Baijnath in Kangra, Chintpurni in Una, BijliMahadev in Kullu, Tarna in Mandi, Renukaji in Sirmour, Laxmi Narayan in Chamba, Bhima Kali in Sarahan Shimla attract large number of visitors and tourists every year. Stampedes are common during religious gatherings. Himachal Pradesh being a land of God’s the people observe large number of festivals when mass gathering forms dense moving crowd.
On August 3, 2008 the Naina Devi temple experienced worst ever tragedy when 146 devotees, including 30 children and 38 women were crushed to death and 50 injured in Stampede triggered by a rumour of landslide. The tragedy took place in the holy month of Sawan and as per media reports there were about 3000 devotees present at the time of catastrophe. Rumours of landslide and rolling down of boulders from a nearby hill top spread fear among the devotees who had gathered in large number in the shrine to offer prayers during Navaratra festival. As a result of the rumour the Stampede occurred and the people died when they were crushed, trapped and forced over the side of nearby Nallah by the movement of a large panicking crowd. The primary factor leading to a stampede is pressure which is multiple of speed variance and density. In order to stop or prevent such mishaps in future the following measures are proposed to be taken:
i) Ensure that the available infrastructure such as roads, corridors, entrances and exits are adequate for the gathering expected to assemble at religious places and there are no bottlenecks and compression points. ii) Every temple where large gathering is expected will have a crowd management plan. iii) Contingency plans for evacuation will be developed on priority.
On August 3, 2008 the Naina Devi temple experienced worst ever tragedy when 146 devotees, including 30 children and 38 women were crushed to death and 50 injured in Stampede triggered by a rumour of landslide. The tragedy took place in the holy month of Sawan and as per media reports there were about 3000 devotees present at the time of catastrophe. Rumours of landslide and rolling down of boulders from a nearby hill top spread fear among the devotees who had gathered in large number in the shrine to offer prayers during Navaratra festival. As a result of the rumour the Stampede occurred and the people died when they were crushed, trapped and forced over the side of nearby Nallah by the movement of a large panicking crowd. The primary factor leading to a stampede is pressure which is multiple of speed variance and density. In order to stop or prevent such mishaps in future the following measures are proposed to be taken:
i) Ensure that the available infrastructure such as roads, corridors, entrances and exits are adequate for the gathering expected to assemble at religious places and there are no bottlenecks and compression points. ii) Every temple where large gathering is expected will have a crowd management plan. iii) Contingency plans for evacuation will be developed on priority.
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