‘Tent fell, barricades collapsed’: Stampede-like situation at Ujjain temple leaves devotees injured
NEW DELHI: Several devotees were reportedly injured after a stampede-like situation broke out near the Mahakaleshwar Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain on Monday, amid a massive crowd gathered for Nag Panchami and Sawan Somvar.The incident was reported near Harsiddhi Chauraha after a rumour about electric current in barricades triggered panic among devotees heading towards the Shri Nagchandreshwar Temple, according to ANI. Some barricades reportedly broke as the crowd surged, leaving several devotees injured.The injured were taken to Charak Hospital for treatment, while Ujjain Collector and Superintendent of Police reached the spot and took charge of the situation.However, the temple administration denied that any chaos or stampede had occurred inside the temple and said devotees were continuing to have darshan without disruption.Temple administration denies stampedeMahakal Temple administrator Pratham Kaushik told ANI that darshan at the Nagchandreshwar Temple was continuing smoothly despite the unusually large crowd.“On the occasion of Nag Panchami, darshan at Nag Chandreshwar Mandir at Shri Mahakaleshwar Mandir is continuously going on…So, it is important to clarify that no chaos or any such incident has occurred at the temple. All devotees are having darshan at the temple seamlessly. Due to Nag Panchami and Sawan Somvar today, a massive number of devotees had darshan today. Till 12 noon today, more than 6 lakh devotees had darshan of Bhagwan Nag Chandreshwar and more than 2 lakh devotees had darshan of Lord Shri Mahakaleshwar. All devotees have been provided every possible facilities by the temple administration. Darshan continues at the temple.”The temple administration said the large turnout was linked to Nag Panchami coinciding with Monday during the holy month of Shravan.The Nagchandreshwar Temple, located atop the Mahakaleshwar Temple, opens only once a year for 24 hours on the occasion of Nag Panchami. Thousands of devotees gather to seek the blessings of Lord Nagchandreshwar during the annual opening.Devotees report injuries near Harsiddhi ChaurahaWhile the temple administration denied any incident inside the temple, reports emerged of devotees being injured in the area around Harsiddhi Chauraha.A woman whose son was admitted to hospital told ANI that he was injured after being caught under a barricade while heading towards the temple.“This occurred at Harsiddhi Chauraha. He came under a barricade when he was going for a darshan at Nath Chandreshwar Mandir. A stampede had broken out there. Nobody helped him. Only one man carried him here…” she said.One of the injured, Sagar, said he had been waiting in the queue for several hours before the incident occurred.“I was in the queue at Mahakal Mandir for the darshan. After seven to eight hours, I reached Harsiddhi Chauraha. We stood there for two hours. The crowd was swelling and since it was time for the aarti, we were stopped there. Suddenly, the barricades were opened and a stampede broke out,” he said.
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He said he was trapped and injured after the barricades collapsed.“The tent fell, and all the barricades fell too. Both of my legs were caught under the barricade. One of my legs is fractured. The arrangements were really poor at the temple. Nobody helped me. Only one man came and helped me; he carried me to a health camp, from where I was taken away in an ambulance,” Sagar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Chaos was also reported near Bada Ganesh Temple, Neelkanth Square and along the route from Kark Raj Parking towards the Harsiddhi entrance.Officials subsequently reached the affected areas and worked to restore order as devotees continued to arrive at the temple complex.The incident occurred amid one of the year’s biggest religious gatherings in Ujjain, with the simultaneous observance of Nag Panchami and Sawan Somvar drawing lakhs of devotees to the Mahakaleshwar temple.
