ThomasEl at 03:16, 9 May 2025

2025-05-09T03:16:08Z

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{{Short description|Human stampede in Rajasthan, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox News event
|name=Chamunda Devi stampede
|image=
|caption=
|date=30 September 2008
|time= 05:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/147-dead-in-temple-stampede-in-Jodhpur/articleshow/3543100.cms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021204745/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-10-01/india/27949942_1_temple-stampede-chamunda-devi-temple-mahatma-gandhi-hospital |url-status=live |archive-date=21 October 2012 |title=179 dead in temple stampede in Jodhpur |date=30 September 2008 |access-date=2008-09-30 |first1=Anindo |last1=Dey |first2=Ajay |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |last2=Parmar}}</ref>
|place=[[Jodhpur]], [[Rajasthan]]<br> {{IND}}
|casualties1=224 dead
|casualties2=425+ injured
|notes=Human [[stampede]], many suffered from [[asphyxiation]] as they were crushed to death<ref name="Sky" />
}}
A human stampede occurred on 30 September 2008, at the Chamunda Devi temple in [[Jodhpur]], [[Rajasthan]], [[India]], in which 224 people were killed<ref>[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ivolVd9fmZFAKooX_Nz340_YpbcQD93I8F900 ap.google.com, Death toll rises to 249 in Indian temple stampede] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003223203/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ivolVd9fmZFAKooX_Nz340_YpbcQD93I8F900 |date=3 October 2008 }}</ref><ref name="BBC 20081002">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7648104.stm India stampede death toll rises, ''BBC News''] (2 October 2008)</ref><ref name="HT 20081003">[http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=117d1d90-c1bd-4e46-9444-44eb21caca68&&Headline=Temple+stampede+toll+rises+to+224 Death toll in Jodhpur temple stampede rises to 224, ''Hindustan Times''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081012130713/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=HomePage&id=117d1d90-c1bd-4e46-9444-44eb21caca68&&Headline=Temple+stampede+toll+rises+to+224 |date=2008-10-12 }} (3 October 2008)</ref> and more than 425 injured.<ref name="gle">{{cite web |url = http://www.smh.com.au/world/at-least-113-dead-in-india-temple-crush-official-20080930-4r21.html|title = At least 113 dead in India temple crush: official|newspaper = Sydney Morning Herald|date = 30 September 2008|access-date = 2008-09-30}}</ref><ref name="BG Wax">{{cite web|author1=Emily Wax ([[The Washington Post]]) |title=Death toll rises to 168 in Indian stampede|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2008/10/01/death_toll_rises_to_168_in_indian_stampede/|publisher=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=6 July 2014|location=New Delhi, India|date=1 October 2008}}</ref> The 15th-century temple is dedicated to the goddess [[Chamunda]] [[Devi]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080067203 | title=Shrieks punctuate sombre atmosphere in Chamunda temple | publisher=NDTV | date=30 September 2008 | access-date=2008-09-30}}</ref> and is located within the premises of [[Mehrangarh Fort]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/stampede-at-indian-temple-kills-at-least-89/1321449.aspx | title=Indian temple stampede death toll climbs | work=AFP via Canberra Times| date=30 September 2008 | access-date=2008-09-30| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081003115127/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/stampede-at-indian-temple-kills-at-least-89/1321449.aspx| archive-date= 3 October 2008 | url-status= dead}}</ref>

About 25,000 [[Hindu]] pilgrims were visiting the temple to mark the first day of the nine-day-long [[Navratri]], a major festival in [[Hinduism]] dedicated to the worship of [[Devi|Goddess]] Durga.<ref name="gle"/>

==Cause==
[[File:Chamunda Devi Temple Jodhpur.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Chamunda Devi Temple, the location of the stampede]]
The devotees scrambled towards the door the moment it opened, resulting in the destruction of the barricades. Many people were injured when they lost their footing on the slope approaching the temple.<ref name="179 dead temple stampede"/>

According to ''[[The Times of India]]'', local reports suggest that a [[terrorist attack|bomb blast]] in nearby Mehrangarh created panic among the pilgrims resulting in the [[stampede]].<ref name="179 dead temple stampede">{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/147-dead-in-temple-stampede-in-Jodhpur/articleshow/3543100.cms | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021204745/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-10-01/india/27949942_1_temple-stampede-chamunda-devi-temple-mahatma-gandhi-hospital | url-status=live | archive-date=21 October 2012 | title=179 dead in temple stampede in Jodhpur | date=30 September 2008 | access-date=2008-09-30 | first1=Anindo | last1=Dey | first2=Ajay | newspaper=[[The Times of India]] | last2=Parmar}}</ref> However, the ''[[BBC News]]'' reported that a collapsing wall may have also caused the stampede.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7643373.stm | title=Scores die in India temple crush | publisher=BBC | date=30 September 2008 | access-date=2008-09-30| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080930070341/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7643373.stm| archive-date= 30 September 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Some eyewitnesses told ''[[CNN-IBN]]'' that a rumour about a bomb being planted in the temple caused panic among pilgrims.<ref name="IBNLive">{{cite web | url=http://www.ibnlive.com/news/death-toll-rises-in-temple-stampede-147-dead/74652-3.html | title=Death toll rises in temple stampede, 147 dead | publisher=CNN-IBN | date=30 September 2008 | access-date=2008-09-30| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081002021407/http://www.ibnlive.com/news/death-toll-rises-in-temple-stampede-147-dead/74652-3.html| archive-date= 2 October 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Others said there was a scramble in the men's queue; some devotees slipped and soon there was a massive resultant stampede where a day of celebration turned into one of mourning.<ref name="hindu"/>

An eyewitness also said that the path leading to the temple was very narrow with no emergency exit routes.<ref name="Sky">{{cite web | url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Dozens-Of-Hindu-Devotees-Killed-In-a-Temple-Stampede-In-Jaipr-India/Article/200809415109887?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_2&lid=ARTICLE_15109887_Dozens_Of_Hindu_Devotees_Killed_In_a_Temple_Stampede_In_Jaipr%2C_India | title=Dozens Crushed in Deadly Stampede | author=Crawford, Alex | publisher=Sky News | date=30 September 2008 | access-date=2008-09-30}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
[[Indian Army]] doctors were called to assist the local authorities in the relief operation.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hgMrrvvoVhKDUYpHtCBAbte6XaZw | title=89 dead in India temple stampede: official | publisher=AFP via Google News | date=30 September 2008 | access-date=2008-09-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004011601/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hgMrrvvoVhKDUYpHtCBAbte6XaZw | archive-date=4 October 2008 | url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]'s [[Rajnath Singh]] assured speedy relief to the victims of the tragedy.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BJPs-Rajnath-Singh-assures-speedy-relief-to-victims/articleshow/3544125.cms | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021204754/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-09-30/india/27921645_1_speedy-recovery-relief-work-victims | url-status=live | archive-date=21 October 2012 | title=BJP's Rajnath Singh assures speedy relief to victims | date=30 September 2008 | newspaper=[[The Times of India]] | access-date=2008-09-30}}</ref> Chief Minister [[Vasundhara Raje]] visited the site and ordered inquiry into the incident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/147-killed-55-injured-in-jodhpur-temple-stampede/|title=147 killed, 55 injured in Jodhpur temple stampede|work=The Indian Express|date=30 September 2008|agency=Agencies|location=Jodhpur|access-date=4 March 2021}}</ref>

Local authorities revealed that most of the dead were men as the queue for women was separate.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4851062.ece | title=India temple stampede kills 177 | work=[[The Times]] | author=Blakely, Rhys | date=30 September 2008 | access-date=2008-09-30 | location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

==Reactions==
[[Uttarakhand]] Chief Minister [[B C Khanduri]], [[Akhilesh Yadav]] and [[Governor]] [[B L Joshi]] expressed grief over the death of the pilgrims at the Chamunda Devi temple. A [[Raj Bhavan (Rajasthan)|Raj Bhavan]] statement issued a condolence message saying Joshi conveyed his deepest sorrow to the bereaved families of the dead and said he would pray for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident. Khanduri followed too in expressing grief over the accident. He also directed District Magistrates of all the 13 districts of his state to make special arrangements at religious places as they are expected to attract large crowds during the Navratra period.<ref name="hindu">{{cite news | url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200809301958.htm | title=Uttarakhand CM, Governor express grief over stampede | work=The Hindu| date=30 September 2008 | access-date=2008-10-01 | location=Chennai, India| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081003141515/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200809301958.htm| archive-date= 3 October 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Jodhpur Muslims decided to keep the Eid celebrations next day a low-key affair. Local Muslim youth joined rescue teams, ferried victims to hospitals and donated blood.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-10-01|title=Muslims decide to keep Id low-key affair|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081002/nation.htm#4|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228114454/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20081002/nation.htm#4|archive-date=2020-12-28|access-date=2021-05-02|website=[[The Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-10-02|title=Jodhpur Muslims help temple stampede victims|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/jodhpur-muslims-help-temple-stampede-victims/story-egO03PUypJk1WDQrBEbRQO.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502025248/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/jodhpur-muslims-help-temple-stampede-victims/story-egO03PUypJk1WDQrBEbRQO.html|archive-date=2021-05-02|access-date=2021-05-02|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[2008 Naina Devi temple stampede]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://photogallery.indiatimes.com/articleshow/3543245.cms Picture gallery of the aftermath of stampede]
*NDTV: Bloggers vent ire over Jodhpur stampede
*Dainik Bhaskar [https://archive.today/20110707232713/http://digital.bhaskar.com/dainikrajasthan/epapermain.aspx?queryed=1&eddate=10/2/2008]
*Dainik Bhaskar [http://digital.bhaskar.com/dainikrajasthan/epapermain.aspx?queryed=11&username=Madhav%20Singh%20Parihar&useremailid=parihar.mscs@verizon.net&parenteditioncode=11&eddate=10/1/2008]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
*Dainik Bhaskar [https://archive.today/20110707231648/http://digital.bhaskar.com/dainikrajasthan/epapermain.aspx?queryed=11&username=Madhav+Singh+Parihar&useremailid=parihar.mscs@verizon.net&parenteditioncode=11&eddate=10/6/2008]

{{Human stampedes}}

[[Category:Human stampedes in 2008|Jodhpur stampede]]
[[Category:2008 disasters in India|Jodhpur stampede]]
[[Category:Human stampedes in India]]
[[Category:History of Jodhpur]]
[[Category:2000s in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Disasters in Rajasthan]]

2008 Jodhpur stampede - Revision history

ThomasEl at 03:16, 9 May 2025