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2 min readBhopalFeb 10, 2026 09:58 PM IST
Gwalior Range Inspector General Arvind Saxena said a large number of women had assembled at the site for the distribution of kalash, or sacred pots, when the crowd surged suddenly and moved forward.
A 70-year-old woman was killed and six others were injured when a crowd suddenly surged during a religious event in Dabra town of Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior district on Tuesday morning, officials said.
The incident took place near the Dabra stadium during a Kalash Yatra organised in connection with the inauguration of the Navgrah Temple in Dabra.
Gwalior Range Inspector General Arvind Saxena said a large number of women had assembled at the site for the distribution of kalash, or sacred pots, when the crowd surged suddenly and moved forward.
“During this, suddenly, entry was given to some women through one gate, because of which a large group formed at that point and pushing and jostling began among the crowd,” Saxena said.
A video from the time of the incident has surfaced, showing that as soon as the gate was opened, the crowd became uncontrollable. Several women who tried to rush to the gate fell and had to be pulled up from the ground, where they were under danger of being trampled on. Eyewitnesses said the gathering had grown unusually large and that pushing and jostling among women near the distribution area disrupted the arrangements moments before the incident.
“In that scuffle, a woman named Kalawati Batham, aged about 60 years, died. One other woman has been admitted to a hospital, and her condition is said to be stable. Another woman and a girl have been admitted to Apil Hospital. This is the information available so far. Four other women sustained minor injuries and were given primary treatment at Dabra Hospital.”
Police are currently probing the arrangements and lapses that led to the sudden surge of the crowd.
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According to the district administration, the Kalash Yatra itself later proceeded along the designated route and reached the temple without further disruption. Officials said the situation in the area is now under control, and additional arrangements have been put in place to prevent a recurrence.
Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More
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