Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has announced immediate relief measures following a tragic stampede during the ‘Kalash Yatra’ at the Navagraha Shakti Peeth temple in Dabra town of Gwalior district. The incident resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries. The Chief Minister approved an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh for the deceased’s next of kin and Rs 1 lakh each for three seriously injured individuals.
A large gathering of devotees, primarily women, assembled near the Dabra stadium for the distribution of sacred urns as part of the consecration ceremony. The stampede occurred during the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the temple, attracting thousands of participants. The temple is known for enshrining planetary deities alongside their consorts, making it a significant site in Asia.
The rush and pushing during the kalash distribution led to chaos and the unfortunate stampede. The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation. Rati Sahu, a 70-year-old woman, lost her life in the crowd crush, while several others, mostly women, sustained injuries. Some of the injured were treated at Dabra Hospital, while others were referred to facilities in Gwalior for further medical care.
Family members of the deceased expressed anger over the tragedy, citing administrative lapses in crowd management. Gwalior Collector Ruchika Chauhan visited the injured at trauma centers in both private and government hospitals, emphasizing the need for proper support and facilities for those affected. Following the incident, Chief Minister Yadav also directed free medical treatment for all victims and ordered a thorough inquiry into the stampede to evaluate crowd control measures and event organization.
