14 Died In 19 Stampedes Every Month Since 2001
On October 15, 2016, a stampede during a religious procession in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, left 25 people dead. Between 2001 and 2014, there were 3,126 incidents of stampede at mass gatherings, which resulted in the deaths of 2,421 people.
On average, 14 persons died in about 19 stampedes every month since the turn of the century, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. There were 3,126 incidents of stampede at mass gatherings, which resulted in the deaths of 2,421 people between 2001 and 2014, data compiled by Factly.in, a data-journalism portal, show.
On October 15, 2016, a stampede during a religious procession on the Rajghat bridge between Varanasi and Chandauli, in Uttar Pradesh, left 25 people dead--including 20 women. In July 2015, more than 27 people died in a stampede during the Godavari Pushkaralu--a festival where the river is worshipped and devotees take a dip in the river--in Andhra Pradesh.
Most deaths in 2001, most incidents in 2009
The highest number of incidents occurred in the year 2009 (1,532 incidents), while the highest number of lives were lost in 2011 (489 deaths). The least numbers of deaths occurred in 2006 (18 deaths).
In 2011, more than 100 people lost their lives in each of the three states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The average number of deaths per year in the last seven years (2008-14) is almost three times the average number of deaths in the first seven years (2001-07).
Source: National Crime Records Bureau
In general, more men died in stampede incidents, except in 2005 when 146 men lost their lives while 200 women lost their lives.
Source: National Crime Records Bureau
Maharashtra had most deaths in stampedes
Maharashtra accounted for the most deaths in stampedes between 2001 and 2014 (368), followed by Andhra Pradesh (359), Tamil Nadu (231), Rajasthan (216) and Madhya Pradesh (213). More than 100 people lost their lives in 11 states during this period.
Source: National Crime Records Bureau
Major incidents of stampede
Maharashtra (2005): The Mandher Devi temple stampede occurred in January 2005, in Satara district of Maharashtra. More than 300 people lost their lives.
Rajasthan (2008): A stampede occurred in September 2008, at the Chamunda Devi temple in Jodhpur in Rajasthan. More than 200 people lost their lives.
Himachal Pradesh (2008): The Naina Devi temple stampede occurred in August 2008 in Himachal Pradesh. More than 100 people lost their lives.
Kerala (2011): The Sabarimala stampede occurred in January 2011, at Sabarimala in Kerala. More than 100 people lost their lives.
Madhya Pradesh (2013): This stampede occurred during the festival of Navratri, near the Ratangarh Mata Temple in Madhya Pradesh. More than 100 people lost their lives.
(Dubbudu has been working on issues related to the Right to Information for a decade. He is a data/information enthusiast & is passionate about governance/policy issues. Factly.in is dedicated to making public data meaningful.)
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