The recent incident at Kalkaji Temple adds to a string of hazardous situations for pilgrims

The recent collapse of an elevated platform during a religious congregation at Delhi’s Kalkaji temple on Sunday has once again brought attention to the precarious conditions of infrastructure at religious places in India. The incident, though relatively minor, claimed one life and left over a dozen injured, highlighting the need for improved safety measures and infrastructure management at such sites.

Durga Dutt, a resident of Tughlaqabad in south Delhi, shared his harrowing experience of the incident. The platform collapsed during a sermon by a local preacher, causing panic among the devotees. While this particular mishap had relatively minor consequences, it reflects a broader issue of inadequate infrastructure and safety measures at religious places across the country.

India has numerous shrines, places of worship, and holy pilgrimages, but not all of them adhere to the necessary safety standards. The larger, well-managed temples can handle large crowds efficiently, but many smaller and less-visited places lack proper facilities and safety protocols.

The incident at Kalkaji temple adds to a series of similar incidents over the years:

1. In April 2023, 36 people died when roof slabs fell on worshippers during Ram Navmi prayers at the Jhulelal temple in Indore. Unauthorized construction and lack of permissions were identified as contributing factors.
2. In October 2022, over 140 Chhath and Diwali revelers were killed in Morbi, Gujarat, when a hanging bridge collapsed.
3. In 2022, 40 people went missing after a cloudburst near the Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir.
4. In July 2015, 27 pilgrims died in a stampede on the banks of the Godavari during the ‘Pushkaram’ festival in Andhra Pradesh’s Rajahmundry district.
5. In October 2014, 32 people perished in a stampede at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan after Dussehra celebrations.
6. In October 2013, 115 died and over 100 were injured in a stampede during Navratri festivities near Ratangarh temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia district.
7. In June 2013, more than 100 pilgrims were washed away in Uttarakhand’s flash floods, and 63 were killed in a rush at the Ram Janki Temple of Kripalu Maharaj in UP’s Pratapgarh district in March 2010.

Road accidents near religious places also contribute to the overall safety concerns, with Bihar recording the highest number of such accidents in 2022.

Religious gatherings and pilgrimages account for a significant percentage of stampedes in India, according to a study published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. The study highlighted the geographical risks posed by remote rural areas, hilly terrains, and the lack of proper pathways, which compromise safety during such events.

One key issue is the lack of effective crowd management. Crowds often grow rapidly and exceed safe capacities, as seen in the Kalkaji temple incident where the congregation was designed for around 2,000 people but swelled to 15,000-20,000 attendees. Adequate planning, administrative measures, and cooperation with local communities are essential to prevent such tragedies.

Experts emphasize the need for careful identification of places and times with a higher risk of stampedes, phased summoning of smaller groups, and unidirectional movement to enhance safety.

The incident at Kalkaji temple serves as a reminder of the urgent need for improved infrastructure, safety protocols, and crowd management at religious places across India. Addressing these issues is crucial to prevent future mishaps and ensure the well-being of devotees during religious congregations and pilgrimages.