No law has been made yet
Even in Madhya Pradesh, there is no separate law or statutory authority to prevent accidents at crowded venues. Right now, the concerned District Collector and SP have to implement the security plan. Even in Chhattisgarh, there is no separate law or authority to organize events like fairs. A crowd of lakhs gathers here.When do events in Madhya Pradesh get crowded?
– Timings of Shivratri Yatra at Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain-On Ganesh Chaturthi at Khajrana Ganesh temple in Indore – In the events organised by religious leaders and storytellers at many places including Bageshwar Dham- Pitambara Temple of Datia, Nalkhedi Temple of Agar, Ramraja Temple, Sharda Temple of Orchha-Maihar, Mata Temple of Salkanpur, Mata Tekri of DewasMany big religious events are also held in Rajasthan- From Kartik Ekadashi to Purnima in Pushkar fair-In the temple during Diggi Kalyan padyatra in Tonk district. -In the Phalguni fair of Khatushyam and Bhadwa fair of Ramdevra.- Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra and Karni Mata fair in Alwar-Beneshwar Dham: In the Maha Kumbh of the tribals- On Jaljhulani Ekadashi and Janmashtami at Srisawaliyanji Temple – On Ganesh Chaturthi at Trinetra Ganesh Temple, Kailadevi Fair- During the Navratri fair at Maa Brahmani temple in Hanumangarh – During the fair at the temple of folk deity Jaharveer Gogaji in GogamediCG: Crowds of devotees gather in these religious events
-At the time of Shivaratri and Punni fair at Hatkeshwar Mahadev temple on Kharun river in Raipur- In the fair from Magh Purnima to Mahashivratri in Rajim of Gariaband district-75 days in Bastar Dussehra folk festival- At the time of Ravana Dahan in WRS and Ravanabhatha Ground in Raipur-Rajnandgaon: Mandip Khol cave opens for tourists 3 days after Akshaya Tritiya. The crowd reaches here by crossing the same river 16 times.MP: When did heart-rending accidents happen?
-October 2013: 117 people died in Ratangarh temple of Datia-15 July 1996: 38 people died in Mahakaleshwar temple of Ujjain-3 October 2006: 50 devotees going to Ratangarh temple in Datia were swept away in the river-March 2008: 6 killed, 11 injured in stampede at Karila temple-August 2014: 10 people died in a stampede at Kamtanath temple in Satna-March 2023: 36 people died due to slab collapse during a religious event in IndoreRajasthan: There was a stampede in the fair and dead bodies were scattered
-30 September 2008: 216 people died in a stampede at Mehrangarh temple-8 August 2022: 3 people died in stampede at Khatushyamji fair- 2020: 1 death in stampede at Khatushyamji fair
- 2019: 1 death in stampede at Khatushyamji fair
- In 2022, 10 shops caught fire. – A laborer died due to the breakdown of the ropeway.
Every year lakhs of people gather, the management is at the mercy of God
How should arrangements be made to save the lives of devotees?
After 121 deaths in the Hathras tragedy in Uttar Pradesh, questions are being raised about safety in crowded events. Such heart-wrenching incidents happen every year somewhere in the country, but till now there is neither any strict law nor any regulatory body for crowd management. A fair authority was definitely formed in Rajasthan, but the law could not be implemented for this. In other states, such an attempt was not even made. Now there is a demand for making a law for crowd management. The magazine wanted to know from expert Ramesh Borana, former vice-president, Rajasthan State Fair Authority, how arrangements should be made so that people’s lives can be kept safe and policy makers can wake up. Read here also – Suicide of students in India: Heavy bundle of expectations at a young age, how to stop the children from taking wrong steps?
Such arrangements should be made in the fair
-There should be separate routes to reach the event venue.-The number of people who will attend the event should be estimated in advance. -Drinking water arrangements should be good so that there is no pushing around. – If large quantities of food are being prepared, it should be checked. – Practical people who can support the people should be put on duty at the venue.
– There should be a communication system to stop rumours. – There should be national legislation to manage and regulate crowded events.
