In Frames: Stampede country

According to the International Institute for Population Sciences, India’s population clocked 1,45,48,50,455, some time around the afternoon on July 11, World Population Day. These masses of people go to work squeezing themselves inside packed suburban trains, celebrate festivals as a community, elect governments by the sheer might of their mandate, and carry their heroes on their shoulders. However, there have also been occasions when their numbers were overwhelming and went out of control, leading to stampedes. In the past 12 months, dozens lost their lives in multiple such tragedies. 

On July 2, 2024, in Hathras in Uttar Pradesh, followers gathered in large numbers to see a self-styled godman. As they rushed to collect sand from his footsteps, which they considered sacred, there was a stampede and 121 followers lost their lives. Worn-out and broken slippers strewn around reflected the gravity of the tragedy.

In Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, six people died and 20 others were injured on January 8, 2025, while trying to collect tokens at counters for the Vaikunta Ekadasi darshan at the Tirumala temple. The tragedy struck despite 94 counters having been set up in Tirupati to avert crowding.

Dozens sleeping on the banks of Sangam in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh were trampled to death during the Kumbh Mela on January 29, 2025, when thousands converged here to take a dip in the Sangam on the occasion of Mauni Ammavasya, considered auspicious by devotees. While the official death toll is put at 37, a BBC Hindi investigation counted it at much higher 82.

On June 4, 2025, IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team members were to attend a celebratory event at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru after lifting their first ever IPL trophy. Already basking in celebration and amid an emotional outburst, RCB fans started flocking to the yet unopened stadium gates, in numbers not anticipated by the police, from the morning. By afternoon, the crowd was uncontrollable. In the resultant stampede, 11 people died and many others were injured.

Except for the Bengaluru stampede and one at a Hyderabad theatre for an Allu Arjun film’s premiere which occurred in cities, other tragedies struck during mass gatherings observing an act of faith.

In New Delhi railway station, 18 people died during a rush of devotees to catch a train headed to the Kumbh Mela.

(Text by Dinesh Krishnan)