A stampede-like situation at Ujjain’s Mahakal Nagchandreshwar temple on Monday left several devotees injured, news agency ANI reported.
According to an injured devotee, the crowd had gathered at the spot after being stopped during the temple visit. Barricades were subsequently opened, triggering a sudden rush in which barricades and a tent collapsed.
Sagar, one of the injured devotees, said he had been standing in the queue at Mahakal Mandir for several hours before reaching Harsiddhi Chauraha.
“Crowd was swelling and…”
“I was in the queue at Mahakal Mandir for the darshan. After 7-8 hours, I reached Harsiddhi Chauraha. We stood there for 2 hours. The crowd was swelling, and since it was time for the aarti, we were stopped there,” he told the news agency.
Sagar said the situation changed suddenly when the barricades were opened.
“Suddenly, the barricades were opened and a stampede broke out. The tent fell and all barricades fell too. Both of my legs were caught under the barricade. One of my legs is fractured,” he said.
He also alleged that there was a lack of assistance at the spot following the incident.
“The arrangements were really poor at the temple. Nobody helped me. Only one man came and helped me, he carried me to a health camp from where I was taken away in an ambulance,” Sagar said.
Mother describes struggle to get injured man help
Meenu, the mother of a man admitted to hospital, said the incident took place at Harsiddhi Chauraha while devotees were heading towards Nath Chandreshwar Mandir for darshan.
“This occurred at Harsiddhi Chauraha. He came under a barricade when he was going for a darshan at Nath Chandreshwar Mandir. A stampede had broken out there. Nobody helped him. Only one man carried him here,” she said.
