Site icon

Lives Lost in Faith—The Alarming Rise of Stampedes in 2025

Lives Lost in Faith—The Alarming Rise of Stampedes in 2025

Lives Lost in Faith—The Alarming Rise of Stampedes in 2025

The year 2025 began not with celebration but with a series of devastating stampedes at religious gatherings across India, plunging countless families into grief.

These tragic incidents, occurring at sacred events from the Jagannath Yatra in Odisha to the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh, and stampedes in Delhi and Goa, many have lost their lives and thousands have been injured, indicating a series of security and crowd management lapses at such crucial religious gatherings.

Here’s a list of deadly stampedes in 2025, highlighting their causes, impacts, and the urgent need for reform.

  1. Jagannath Yatra Stampede, Puri, Odisha:

The latest tragedy occurred on Sunday during the Jagannath Yatra in Puri, Odisha. As thousands of devotees gathered near the Gundi Cha Temple to witness the mesmerising chariot procession, a sudden surge in crowds led to a stampede.

According to the reports, three devotees have lost their lives, and more than three dozen have been injured. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi called it an “unforgivable lapse”. Additionally, he has suspended the Puri DCP Bishnu Charan Pati and Police Commandant Ajay Padhi.

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while extending condolences to the families of the devotees who died, lashed out at the government and called this stampede – “a failure of crowd management” that “exposes the government’s glaring incompetence in ensuring a peaceful festival of devotees.”

Former CM Naveen Patnaik criticized the government’s “glaring incompetence.” The incident intensified debates over accountability and the need for robust safety protocols at major festivals like the Rath Yatra, adding to 2025’s toll of religious tragedies.

  1. Maha Kumbh Mela Stampede, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh:

The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, turned catastrophic on January 29 during the Mauni Amavasya holy dip in Prayagraj.

  1. New Delhi Railway Station Stampede, Delhi:

On February 14, a deadly stampede at New Delhi Railway Station underscored the ripple effects of mass pilgrimages on transportation hubs.

  1. Lairai Jatra Festival Stampede, Shirgao, North Goa:

The Lairai Jatra festival in Shirgao village, North Goa, became a site of tragedy on May 3, highlighting risks at smaller religious gatherings.

These four incidents have reignited public debate over India’s ability to manage massive religious events safely. The National Disaster Management Authority’s guidelines, such as pre-registered passes and staggered timings, are often poorly implemented.

These tragedies demand urgent reforms, including modernized infrastructure, enhanced security, and stringent safety audits to ensure faith is not marred by loss.

Exit mobile version