View source for 2011 Sabarimala crowd crush

{{short description|Human stampede in Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox news event
|image_name        = 
|image_size        = 
|caption           = 
|date              = {{start date|df=yes|2011|01|14}}
|time              = 
|place             = Pullumedu, [[Sabarimala]], [[Kerala]], India
|coordinates       = {{Coord|9.463307|77.093717|region:IN_type:landmark|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
|reported injuries = 456
|reported death(s) = 106
}}

The '''2011 Sabarimala stampede''' was a [[crowd crush]] (often incorrectly confused as a 'human [[stampede]]') on  14 January 2011, [[Makara Jyothi]] Day at Pullumedu near [[Sabarimala]] in [[Kerala]], [[India]]. It broke out during an annual [[pilgrimage]], killing 106 pilgrims and injuring about 100 more declared later as "National disaster".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.pollachinews.com/2011/01/pullumedu-stampede-toll-climbs-to-106.html | title = Pullumedu stampede toll climbs to 106 | access-date = 2011-11-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110121073000/http://www.pollachinews.com/2011/01/pullumedu-stampede-toll-climbs-to-106.html | archive-date = 2011-01-21 | url-status = dead }}</ref>  The pilgrims were returning from a [[Hindu]] shrine on the last day of a yearly festival which attracts millions of devotees. It began after a Jeep toppled over.

==Background==
[[File:SabarimalaRush2010.JPG|thumb|Pilgrims gathering in Sabarimala for the Makarajyothi in 2010.]]

It is the worst recorded accident to have occurred in Sabarimala.  In the past on 14 January 1952, 66 [[Ayyappa]] pilgrims were burnt to death when two fireworks sheds caught fire, while on the same day [[1999 Sabarimala stampede| in 1999, 52 pilgrims were killed]] following a [[crowd crush]] during their return after witnessing the [[Makara Jyothi]] at Pamba.<ref name="ie20110115">{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/another-black-friday-for-sabarimla-pilgrims/737807/|title=Another Black Friday for Sabarimla pilgrims|date=15 January 2011|work=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=15 January 2011}}</ref>

The two-month-long pilgrimage, which had started in {{Nowrap|November 2010}}, had been mostly incident-free before this crowd crush.<ref name="toi20110115"/>

==The Incident==
The incident happened around 8 p.m. local time. Most of the dead were from the states of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Kerala]]. There are various versions of the accident as reported in various newspapers and television reports. The victims were going back home through the forest after Makara Jyothi [[Darśana|darshanam]], thought to be a celestial phenomenon on the hill shrine of the Hindu god [[Ayyappan]].<ref name="toi20110115"/>  The [[crowd crush]] was reportedly caused by an [[SUV]] which blocked the path, near Pullumedu, possibly after breaking down. When moved it may have overturned and caused people to stumble, triggering the stampede or by too many people running down the hill towards the road where there was already a pack of vehicles. There is a version of an accident between an autorickshaw and a Jeep. The real trigger of the incident remains a mystery given the fact that the spot where the stampede occurred is an open field.

==Relief efforts==
Kerala Chief Minister [[V. S. Achuthanandan]] announced a judicial inquiry into the stampede tragedy and also announced a grant of {{INR}}5,00,000 for families of each of the victims.<ref name="ie20110115x">{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/kerala-govt-to-order-judicial-probe-into-stampede/737831/|title=Kerala govt orders judicial probe into stampede|work=[[The Indian Express]]|access-date=15 January 2011}}</ref>  Prime minister of India [[Manmohan Singh]] offered condolences for the deaths and announced a compensation of {{INR}}1,00,000 to the next of kin of the dead and {{INR}}50,000 for those injured.  A team of [[National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)]] was sent to the scene.<ref name="toi20110115">{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/104-killed-in-Sabarimala-stampede-50-injured/articleshow/7290295.cms|title=Breaking News: 104 killed in Sabarimala stampede, 50 injured|date=15 January 2011|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=15 January 2011}}</ref> [[Tamil Nadu]] Chief Minister [[M. Karunanidhi]] announced {{INR}}1,00,000 to the family of each victim from Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://dinamani.com/edition/story.aspx?SectionName=Tamilnadu&artid=362177&SectionID=129&MainSectionID=129&SEO=&Title=| title=சபரிமலை நெரிசலில் 102 பேர் பலி: இறந்த தமிழக பக்தர்கள் குடும்பத்துக்கு தலா ஒரு லட்சம்: முதல்வர் ("102 devotees killed in Sabarimala jam")| publisher=[[Dina Mani]]| date=17 January 2011| access-date=17 January 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006132255/http://dinamani.com/edition/story.aspx?SectionName=Tamilnadu&artid=362177&SectionID=129&MainSectionID=129&SEO=&Title=| archive-date=6 October 2011| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[1999 Sabarimala stampede]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/sabarimala-stampede-100-devotees-feared-killed-100-injured/187772 Video:Sabarimala stampede: Over 100 pilgrims killed]
*[http://sdma.kerala.gov.in/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=118&Itemid=220: List of people killed]

{{Human stampedes}}
{{Disasters in India in 2011}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Human stampedes in India, History of Kerala (1947–present), Disasters in Kerala, History of Pathanamthitta district
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[[Category:Human stampedes in India]]
[[Category:Human stampedes in 2011|Sabarimala stampede]]
[[Category:2011 disasters in India|Sabarimala stampede]]
[[Category:History of Kerala (1947–present)]]
[[Category:Disasters in Kerala]]
[[Category:History of Pathanamthitta district]]