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{{Use Indian English|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox event
| title = 2013 Madhya Pradesh stampede
| date = 13 October 2013
| place = [[Ratangarh, Datia]] <br /> [[Madhya Pradesh]] <br /> [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|26|5|34|N|78|38|31|E|region:IN_type:event|display=inline,title}}
| reported deaths = 115
| reported injuries = 110
}}

On 13 October 2013, during the [[Hindu]] festival of [[Navratri]], a [[stampede]] broke out on a bridge near the [[Ratangarh Mata Temple]] in [[Datia district]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], India, killing 115 people and injuring more than 110.<ref name="bbc">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24516291 |title=India temple stampede in Madhya Pradesh 'kills 115' |newspaper=BBC |date=13 October 2013 |access-date=15 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="times">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Death-toll-in-MP-stampede-reaches-115-Congress-wants-CM-to-quit/articleshow/24151591.cms |title=Death toll in MP stampede reaches 115; Congress wants CM to quit |newspaper=Times of India |date=14 October 2013 |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref>

==Background==
The stampede occurred during the [[Navratri]] festival dedicated to the worship of the Hindu goddess [[Durga]].<ref name="times"/> About 500,000 pilgrims were estimated to have flocked to the Ratangarh Mata Temple,<ref name="nyt">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/15/world/asia/scores-of-pilgrims-die-in-stampede-on-bridge-in-india.html |title=Scores of Pilgrims Die in Stampede on Bridge in India |newspaper=The New York Times |date=14 October 2013 |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> located in the village of [[Ratangarh, Datia|Ratangarh]] in [[Datia district]] of [[Madhya Pradesh]] in central India.<ref name="times"/> The worshippers were mainly from Datia and the neighbouring state of [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name="times"/>

In 2006, 56 pilgrims died at the same site after being washed away by water released upstream from the [[Sindh River]]. In response to that disaster, the state government built a bridge over the Sindh.<ref name="times"/> The bridge, located {{convert|1.5|km}} from the temple, is {{convert|400|m}} long and {{convert|7|m}} wide.<ref name="hindu">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/91-die-as-rumours-spark-stampede-in-mp-temple/article5231189.ece?homepage=true |title=91 die as rumours spark stampede in MP temple |newspaper=The Hindu |date=14 October 2013 |access-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> It was less than four years old and reportedly in good condition when the stampede took place.<ref name="nyt"/>

==The stampede==
Approximately 25,000 people were on the bridge at about 9 a.m. on Sunday, 13 October 2013, and a section of the railing was broken. Rumour spread that the bridge was about to collapse, and the crowd panicked and began pushing their way off. Many were killed or injured in the ensuing crush, and others drowned after jumping into the swelling river.<ref name="nyt"/> Most of the victims were women and children.<ref name="bbc"/>

There were conflicting reports about the cause of the stampede. One report said that the rumour of the bridge's impending collapse began when a section of the railing broke, but another said that the bridge had been hit by a tractor before the stampede. Others said that a group of pilgrims intentionally spread the rumour, hoping to cut the long line. Some witnesses said that the stampede started when the police charged into the crowd wielding canes, but the allegation was denied by police officials.<ref name="nyt"/>

==Aftermath==
Rescue operations were hampered by a 7-kilometre-long traffic jam on the only road to the temple. Angry at the delay, relatives of the victims pelted stones at police officers, injuring several.<ref name="hindu"/>

News agencies carried reports, including eyewitness reports, that policemen robbed and also threw dead bodies and even living survivors off the bridge into the swollen Sindh River below apparently in an effort to reduce the death count; [[D. K. Arya]], the [[Deputy inspector general of police|Deputy Inspector-General of Police]] (DIG) for the [[Chambal Division|Chambal]] Range based at [[Morena]] categorically denied the possibility.<ref name="ht">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/bhopal/Cops-deny-they-threw-MP-stampede-victims-off-bridge/Article1-1135252.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015035400/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bhopal/cops-deny-they-threw-mp-stampede-victims-off-bridge/article1-1135252.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 October 2013 |title=Cops deny they threw MP stampede victims off bridge |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=15 October 2013 |access-date=15 October 2013}}</ref>

The Madhya Pradesh government has announced a compensation of [[Indian rupee|Rs.]] 150,000 for each of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to those who suffered serious injuries.<ref name="hindu"/>

Chief Minister [[Shivraj Singh Chouhan]] ordered the establishment of a judicial commission to probe allegations of corruption and police misconduct.<ref name="ndtv">{{cite news |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/madhya-pradesh-stampede-21-officials-suspended-judicial-probe-to-begin-today-432370?curl=1381807057 |title=Madhya Pradesh stampede: 21 officials suspended, judicial probe to begin today |newspaper=NDTV |date=15 October 2013 |access-date=15 October 2013}}</ref>

The [[Election Commission of India]] has, at the request of the State Government, suspended the [[District Magistrate]] (District Collector) Mr. Sanket Bhondwe, Superintendent of Police (SP) Mr. P. Chandrashekhar Solanki, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Revenue (SDM) of Seondha Mr. Mahip Tejaswi, Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) of Seondha Mr. B.N. Basave, and the entire staff of the Seondha Police Station.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/Ratangarh-stampede-Collector-SP-SDOP-SDM-of-Datia-suspended-for-negligence/articleshow/24161268.cms |title=Ratangarh stampede: Collector, SP, SDOP, SDM of Datia suspended for negligence |newspaper=Times of India |date=14 October 2013 |access-date=16 October 2013}}</ref>

[[Indian National Congress|Congress Party]] representatives allege that the true death toll is higher, possibly touching 400. The representatives criticized the State Administration for allegedly fudging the records and demanded the resignation of Chouhan, but the ruling [[BJP]] rebuffed the demand and accused the Congress Party of playing politics.<ref name="ndtv"/>

==See also==
* [[2013 Kumbh Mela stampede]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Disasters in India in 2013}}
{{Human stampedes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2013 Madhya Pradesh stampede}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Datia district, History of Madhya Pradesh (1947–present), Disasters in Madhya Pradesh, Human stampedes in India, October 2013 events in India
|description=
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[[Category:2013 disasters in India|Madhya Pradesh stampede]]
[[Category:Datia district]]
[[Category:History of Madhya Pradesh (1947–present)]]
[[Category:Disasters in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Human stampedes in 2013|Madhya Pradesh stampede]]
[[Category:Human stampedes in India]]
[[Category:October 2013 events in India]]

2013 Madhya Pradesh stampede - Revision history

MetaBOT at 18:02, 8 July 2023