Pune: Several people, including women and children, were injured in a stampede-like situation at Shivneri Fort in Pune on the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti on Thursday. The crowd went out of control
A massive crowd gathered at Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in Junnar taluka of Pune district, on the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti. The fort complex was jampacked since last night with many people carrying Shiv Jyoti from across the state. According to police, a railing broke amid heavy crowding during celebrations, leading to chaos.
The crowd also went out of control due to inadequate police arrangements to contain the surging crowd. The narrowness of the paths and the large number of people moving at once led to a stampede-like situation. Several people, including some women and children, were injured in the chaos.
The injured were immediately admitted to the government hospital in Junnar, where they are undergoing treatment. There was no loss of life in this incident. Superintendent of Police Sandeep Gill, who reached the spot after the incident, said some people sustained minor injuries and no one was seriously hurt. He urged people to avoid rumours and cooperate with the administration.
The situation was later brought under control. Every year, Shivaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary is celebrated at the fort in the presence of the Chief Minister. This year too, a programme will be held at 9 am and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be present.
A large number of people flock to the Pune fort on Shivaji Jayanti every year. Therefore, demands have intensified for better crowd management, proper arrangements for entry and exit routes, and ensuring adequate police deployment in advance.