Lok Sabha Question No. 315 (STARRED), answered on 2015-08-11
Subject: Stampede Cases
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: SUSHMITA DEV, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO.*315

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH AUGUST, 2015/SHRAVANA 20, 1937 (SAKA)

**STAMPEDE CASES**

*315.		KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV:

SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether several incidents of stampede have been reported at various places of worship/pilgrimage centres and especially during festivals/fairs and if so, the details thereof including the number of such cases reported, including the number of persons killed/injured separately during each of the last three years and the current year, gender, location and State-wise;

(b) whether any inquiry has been conducted in this regard and if so, the details and outcome thereof along with the follow-up action taken, State-wise;

(c) the financial assistance provided to the families of the victims of such stampede during the said period, State-wise;

(d) whether any standard operating procedure/guidelines on crowd management and evacuation procedures has been framed and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to provide training to police personnel on crowd management and evacuation procedures along with the details of advisories issued to the States and Police departments to prevent such incidents in future?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

(SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (e):	A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*315 FOR 11.08.2015

**(a):	Yes, Madam.  The details of significant stampede cases since 2012 are annexed.**

**(b) & (c):	Police and Public order is a State subject.  Hence, security at the religious places etc. is the responsibility of the State Governments/UT Administration.  It is the State Governments/UT Administration which provide medical assistance and other necessary relief to the injured/families of the deceased of such incidents.  Independent of the action by the State Governments/UT Administrations, ex-gratia payment to the next of kin of the deceased and those injured has also been made from time to time from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.**

**(d):	The Government of India issues advisories to State Governments/UT administrations from time to time with regard to crowd management and to ensure security and safety of the people visiting such religious places.  The State Governments/UT Administrations have also been asked to play a proactive role to ensure foolproof security of religious place(s).  The State Governments/UT Administrations have also been requested to set up State Level Security Committees (SLSC) to draft and implement security plans, Standard Operating Procedures (SPOs) etc. of places of religious importance.**

**(e):	Crowd control and management is part of basic police training for all ranks in the police force.  The State governments/UT Administrations are required to constantly upgrade training syllabus and methodology relating to crowd control and management.  Further, the SOPs in this regard need constant review to keep in tune with changing situations.  The Central Government issues advisories in this regard from time to time.**

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**Page 1 of 2 of Annexure**

**L.S.S.Q.NO.*315 FOR 11.08.2015**

**Details of stampede cases – Yearwise & Statewise**

| **Date**         | **Place of Stampede and State**                                    | **Killed**   | **Injured**   | **Cause of the stampede**                                                                                                                          |
|------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| **2012**         |                                                                    |              |               |                                                                                                                                                    |
| 14  th  January  | Hussain Tekri Sharif, Jaora, district Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh)      | 12           | 4             | During the observance of a sacred ritual as part of Chehallum.                                                                                     |
| 20  th  February | Bhavnath temple, Junagadh (Gujarat)                                | 7            | 29            | Occasion of Sivaratri celebrations.                                                                                                                |
| 23  rd  May      | Kolhapur (Maharashtra)                                             | 3            | 10            | Rath Yatra of deity Laxmi Devi.                                                                                                                    |
| 26  th  May      | Tirumala Hills, district Chittoor (Andhra Pradesh)                 | 0            | 3             | Stampede occurred when two devotees, standing in queue, fell down due to weakness.                                                                 |
| 2  nd  September | Rajgir, district Bihar Sharif(Bihar)                               | 1            | 06            | During ongoing ‘Malmas Mela’ when devotees rushed to take holy dip in hot spring.                                                                  |
| 19  th  November | Adalatganj Ghat, PS Pirbahore, district Patna (Bihar)              | 17           | 30            | Following collapse of a temporary bamboo  bridge on river Ganga during Chhath festival.                                                            |
| **2013**         |                                                                    |              |               |                                                                                                                                                    |
| 10  th  February | Allahabad Railway Station, Allahabad(Uttar Pradesh)                | 37           | 43            | Stampede took place due to overcrowding on the over bridge between two platforms.                                                                  |
| 10  th  March    | Lodheshwar temple, PS Ramnagar, district Barabanki (Uttar Pradesh) | 2            | 5             | Stampede due to heavy rush on the occasion of ‘Mahashivratri’.                                                                                     |
| 4-5  th  October | Tuljabhawani temple, PS Tuljapur, district Osmanabad (Maharashtra) | 1            | 17            | Stampede when Police tried to control the pilgrims.                                                                                                |
| 13  th  October  | Ratangarh district Datia (Madhya Pradesh)                          | 121          | 150           | Stampede and drowning in river Sindh, following an alleged rumour about damage to the railing of a bridge.                                         |
| **2014**         |                                                                    |              |               |                                                                                                                                                    |
| 18  th  January  | Malabar Hills area, Mumbai (Maharashtra)                           | 18           | 59            | Stampede among followers who had assembled to pay last respects to Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, Head Priest of Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community. |

**Page 2 of 2 of Annexure**

**L.S.S.Q.NO.*315 FOR 11.08.2015**

| 4  th  February   | PS Pratappur district Surajpur(Chhattisgarh)                         | 8   | 1   | Due to collapse of ‘Bildwar Gufa’ (Lord Shiva cave), many devotees were buried alive, of whom eight were found dead.     |
|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|-----|-----|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 4  th  August     | PS Singur, district Hooghly (West Bengal)                            | 1   | 36  | Stampede among pilgrims (devotees of Tarakeshwar Shiv Temple) while crossing the  Railway gate at Kamarkundu.            |
| 25  th  August    | Chitrakoot area, district Satna(Madhya Pradesh)                      | 10  | 10  | Stampede at Kamathgiri temple.                                                                                           |
| 3  rd  October    | Exhibition Road, district Patna (Bihar)                              | 33  | 29  | Stampede among spectators of Dussehra celebration near Sir Ram Gulam Chowk while they were returning from Gandhi Maidan. |
| 3  rd  October    | Devaragattu village, PS Holagunda, district Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh) | 1   | 42  | Stampede during traditional mock-fight on the occasion of ‘Banni Festival’ in Male Malleswaraswami termple.              |
| 4  th  October    | Jagdalpur, district Bastar (Chhattisgarh)                            | 1   | 1   | Stampede during Dussehra chariot pulling ceremony near Maa Danteswari temple.                                            |
| **2015**          |                                                                      |     |     |                                                                                                                          |
| 4  th  April      | Allahabad district, Sangam area, PS Daraganj (Uttar Pradesh)         | -   | 8   | Stampede at Bade Hanuman Temple on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.                                                      |
| 14  th  July      | East Godavari district (Andhra Pradesh)                              | 27  | 44  | Stampede due to heavy rush to enter ghat of river on the occasion of Godavari Mahapushkaram.                             |
| 18  th  July      | Puri District, near Marichikot Square (Odisha)                       | 2   | 6   | Stampede during pulling of chariot of Lord Balabhadra on the occasion of Jaganath Rath Yatra celebration.                |

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