New Delhi: At least 15 people, mostly women and children, lost their lives, and 15 others were injured in a stampede at New Delhi’s main railway station, the chief minister of India’s capital territory told reporters early Sunday.
India has witnessed several deadly stampedes over the years, primarily during religious gatherings or festivals, where massive crowds have led to chaotic and tragic incidents. Here’s a look at some of the major stampedes in the past two decades:
Recent Stampedes
- January 29, 2025 – A stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh claimed dozens of lives on one of the event’s holiest days, as tens of millions gathered in what is considered the world’s largest religious gathering.
- January 8, 2025 – At least six people died and 35 were injured in a stampede near one of India’s busiest temples in Andhra Pradesh, after thousands of devotees scrambled to secure free visit passes.
- July 2024 – Around 121 people lost their lives in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras district when a massive crowd rushed to get a closer look at a Hindu preacher.
- January 2022 – A stampede at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir left at least 12 dead and many injured, following an overwhelming surge of devotees attempting to enter the narrow shrine.
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Major Stampedes in the Last Two Decades
- October 2013 – A stampede at the Ratangarh temple in Madhya Pradesh killed approximately 115 people and injured over a hundred others during the Navratri festival. Over 150,000 people had gathered for the religious celebrations.
- February 2013 – A stampede at the Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh resulted in the deaths of at least 36 Hindu pilgrims, including 27 women and an eight-year-old girl.
- March 2010 – At least 63 people, over half of them children, died in a stampede at a Hindu temple in Uttar Pradesh as devotees rushed for free food and clothing.
- September 2008 – A devastating stampede at the Chamundagar temple in Rajasthan killed 250 people during the Navratri festival.
- August 2008 – Rumors of a landslide at the Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh triggered a panic-induced stampede, leading to the deaths of about 145 Hindu pilgrims.
- January 2005 – More than 265 devotees lost their lives, and hundreds were injured in a stampede at the Mandhardevi temple in Maharashtra. Slippery steps leading up to the temple were cited as a major factor in the tragedy.
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With religious gatherings in India often drawing millions, ensuring crowd management and safety measures remains a critical challenge.
