Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stepped in decisively following a heartbreaking stampede at the Navgraha Shakti Peeth in Dabra, Gwalior. The mishap during Tuesday’s Kalash Yatra resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, prompting urgent aid announcements.
Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia payment has been sanctioned for the kin of Rati Sahu, a 70-year-old resident of Hanuman Colony who succumbed to injuries after being trampled. Three gravely wounded persons are set to get Rs 1 lakh each, and free medical care is mandated for everyone hurt in the incident.
What began as an enthusiastic gathering of thousands—mostly women—at Dabra Stadium for kalash distribution turned chaotic. The Yatra was the kickoff to the temple’s Pran Pratishtha, a spectacle running until February 20 under Narottam Mishra’s guidance. Billed as Asia’s grandest Navgraha shrine, it draws crowds for its rare depiction of nine planets alongside their divine spouses.
The frenzy apparently stemmed from overcrowding and jostling for the pots, sparking a deadly rush. While investigations continue, hospitals reported handling 7-8 casualties. Local care sufficed for some, but severe cases like Vimala and a young girl were transferred to Gwalior’s top hospitals, where one patient fights for life.
Grief turned to fury as the victim’s family accused organizers of negligence, marching the body back to the venue in defiance. Collector Rucheeka Chauhan responded with on-ground visits to injured parties and the site, ordering airtight assistance measures.
As Madhya Pradesh grapples with this loss amid religious fervor, the episode highlights the need for robust event planning. CM Yadav’s proactive relief package aims to alleviate suffering, but it also sparks calls for stricter safety norms at mega-faith assemblies, ensuring devotion doesn’t endanger lives.