At Least 168 Die In India Temple Stampede

More Than 100 More Injured During Hindu Festival That Drew Crowds Topping 12,000

(AP)  At least 168 people were killed and 100 injured when thousands of pilgrims stampeded Tuesday at a Hindu temple in the historic town of Jodhpur in western India, officials said.

Severe overcrowding apparently caused the crush as more than 12,000 people gathered at the temple to celebrate a Hindu festival, Jodhpur Police Superintendent Malini Agarwal said.

At least 168 people were killed in the stampede, said Naresh Pal Gangwar, the district collector.

The stampede apparently began as false rumors of a bomb spread among the crowd, said Ramesh Vyas, a pilgrim who was standing in line. India has been hit by a spate of recent bomb attacks, the latest on Monday night in the western city of Malegaon.

Television footage from Jodhpur showed dozens of bodies lying on the sidewalk, while nearby frantic people tried to revive unconscious devotees, slapping their faces and pressing on their chests.

Others dragged people by their arms and legs, running down a ramp that leads to the temple inside the massive 15th century Mehrangarh fort that overlooks the town.

One child sat on the ground next to the body of a woman, rubbing her forehead and crying "mother, mother."

"Several people fell down as the floor became slippery with thousands of devotees breaking coconuts for offering at the temple," said Ramesh Vyas, a witness.

The injured have been admitted to half a dozen hospitals in Jodhpur.

Thousands had gathered at the temple at dawn Tuesday to mark the first day of Navratra, a nine-day Hindu festival to honor the Mother Goddess.

Jodhpur is some 180 miles southwest of the Rajasthan state capital of Jaipur.

The Mehrangarh fort is one of the town's biggest tourist attractions with its huge walls, ornate interiors and views overlooking Jodhpur's "blue city."

Deadly stampedes are a relatively common occurrence at temples in India, where large crowds — sometimes hundreds of thousands of people — congregate in small areas lacking facilities to control big gatherings.

In August, 145 people were killed when rumors of an avalanche sparked a stampede at a hilltop temple in northern India.

[incog-nito]

You know, for some reason these things happen at least once every year without fail.

[ah8193]

God works in many ways!

[pirmin3]

Not an unusual event at religious events in the third world. Stuff happens.

[gangesdak]

Here we have slogans -God & Country- and we march proudly. There people go to the places of pilgrimage with no invitation and with little organization. And when things go wrong they die with little protest, knowing it was God%u2019s grace. The values are different.

[luckygirl042]

It seems as if people either kill off each other in the name of g0d, or themselves in such a sad and tragic manner. It boggles the mind. This happens so often you''d think they would be a little more cautious.
And why are they always stampeding?

[gangesdak]

Roads are narrow. Number of people is overwhelming in that narrow space. If people are worried about their personal safety they cannot go to those places. But it is God''s place; lot of memories related to divine plays of the Lord and His esteemed devotees are retained in those places for thousands of years. So, even today people sacrifice their personal safety and go there just to see a sacred relic or to touch the soil just knowing that this is where the Lord stood or played. Yes, things go wrong, there are lots of push and pull, people panic, they get injured and may die. Sad, but perhaps it is better to inflict injury to themselves than inflicting injury to others.

[myopinion1]

Why in this day and age are these backwards people still killing each other in stampedes? You would think after thousands and thousands are killed in these things they would do SOMETHING to prevent it again. This goddess they are worshipping isn''t doing very much to help them, is she?

[deepperppl]

I remember the August story vividly. I thought how the IQ of a crowd drops relative to its size. This seems to support that theory. How sad, and how unnecessary.

[tonic1111]

my opinion 1, your comment shows that you are an ignorant man.

[blogthis1]

There is no God.... God is just old tales from the past for guilable people. This people are dying for nothing.

[patriot2381]

Many humans need to believe in the supernatural. G$D is the most profitable.

[vsg4]

I am sick to seethis happened 2nd time this year in Indian temple. Both times 140 + people died. Authorities have no accountability and people are ignorant that it will be unsafe to go in masses on these particular days.

Wake up, you can worship at home instead going some place sacred and die in vain.

[thevicar1]

Its the price they pay for choosing the wrong god.

[xmanborg]

Jeasus Christ would not have let this happen. Time to Flip Flop your who you worship and save your selves.

[xmanborg]

Jeasus Christ would not have let this happen. Time to change religions and save your selves from the lake of fire.

[gangesdak]

Why in this day and age are these backwards people still killing each other in stampedes? You would think after thousands and thousands are killed in these things they would do SOMETHING to prevent it again. This goddess they are worshipping isn''''t doing very much to help them, is she?
Posted by MyOpinion1 at 08:46 AM

%u201CModern%u201D people go to a flashy church complete with daycare facilities in an orderly fashion, sing in an orderly choir, organize a bake sale, and believe they are acting religiously. In doing so, perhaps they are just too worldly, and they want religion to be just one more puzzle piece (a tiny piece) for their life. Every scripture of every religion will attest that worldliness cannot beget God. Saints of every religion never prayed for their own safety, and many of them died miserably and neglected. Weak people of every religion wanted God to be their bodyguard. God helps spiritual development of an aspirant, not their personal safety or comfort. Whereas the %u201Cmodern%u201D people would not sacrifice safety and comfort, %u201Cbackward%u201D people would not think of personal safety if they get a chance to get a vision of God.
No one wants pilgrims to die in a stampede. But it happens in the best of planning.

[gangesdak]

Jeasus Christ would not have let this happen. Time to change religions and save your selves from the lake of fire.

Posted by XmanBorg at 09:59 AM

I beleive many (if not most) of the victims of 9-11 were Christians. What was Christ doing?

[gangesdak]

Its the price they pay for choosing the wrong god.
Posted by TheVicar1 at 09:51 AM

With that understanding, many of the victims of 9-11 who died a horrible death must have chosen a wrong God by following Jesus Christ, becuae, after all, God is nothing but a bodyguard. If I lose money in the stock marketm I may have chosen a wrong God. If I lose my job, I must have chosen a grong God. With that understaning, everyone in this country should change thewir religion.

[vsg4]

"With that understaning, everyone in this country should change their religion.

Posted by gangesdak at 10:38 AM : Sep 30, 2008"

Bravo, well said.

[minnick8-2009]

Why in this day and age are these backwards people still killing each other in stampedes?

Posted by MyOpinion1

I have heard of people being crushed in America at rock concerts. They sure must be a backward people to let that happen.

[minnick8-2009]

Jeasus Christ would not have let this happen. Time to Flip Flop your who you worship and save your selves.

Posted by XmanBorg

The spelling of Jesus is J e s u s. Part of the experience of this life is the opportunity make choices and take the consequences. Life happens. Jesus Christ obviously doesn''t intervene to prevent everything bad that could happen from happening.

[legacyabq]

Wow you christians on here are making some really evil comments, aren''t you worried about hell yourself?
Do you really think that your god is the "real" one and everyone else is crazy?
Isnt the reverse true?
Dont you understand that if you were born in India you would be a hindu?
Religion is a creation of man!!
Thousands of religions have come and gone over thousands of years, BUT YOU ARE REALLY LUCKY, and JUST HAPPEN TO PICK THE "CORRECT" ONE.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
OK, get a grip, there is no god, and we shouldnt need a religion to tell us to be nice to each other, why I figured that out all by myself, just by THINKING.
Life is more happy when people get along.
Religion is the stupidest invention, after the atomic bomb, which man has ever made.
How is it moral when you guys only do GOOD things because you are going to be REWARDED for it????
Cant you see that virtue is its own merit??
Not some heavan in the sky?
Or worse, doing GOOD for fear of HELL, instead of the sake of goodness itself????
Hypocrites! Dogs!
Keep fighting your wars and laughing at poor people,
and then pretend to be a christian.
If Jesus was still around, he would be ASHAMED to see how HATEFUL you modern U.S. "Christians" have become!!
You are a pathological disease in this hemisphere!
**Signed, the happiest athiest in the West
Who loves everyone.. (even you evil christians)

[xmanborg]

Jeasus / Jesus

Does not care about Spelling Mistakes.

[lewiston14]

YEA SO

[lewiston14]

Maybe if they blow themselfs up we get our jobs back, You support them or the family here that is trying to support itself? And they smell bad to. Man learn learn how to take a bath. I was there twice and it stank.

[bobnjersey]

[Jesus Christ obviously doesn''''t intervene to prevent everything bad that could happen from happening.]
[Posted by minnick8 at 11:05 AM : Sep 30, 2008]

what''s his criteria for intervening?

[redbds]

Jeasus Christ would not have let this happen. Time to change religions and save your selves from the lake of fire.

Posted by XmanBorg at 09:59 AM

Jesus doesn''t like idiots either! Repent now and get an education.

[observer2020]

I thought how the IQ of a crowd drops relative to its size.
Posted by deepperppl

Never under estimate the stupidity of people in large groups.

Oh, and I absolutely love the comments about choosing the "wrong God." It''s the whole thing with organized religion that''s wrong. Your religion should be kept close to your heart (with your mouth closed).

[thevicar1]

Oh, and I absolutely love the comments about choosing the "wrong God." Its the whole thing with organized religion thats wrong. Your religion should be kept close to your heart (with your mouth closed) ---------------------------------- Posted by observer2020


What WRONG, is you, dear Boffo! IF you knew ANYTHING about Christianity (and you dont), you would realize that THE primary tenet of that faith is Jesus command to TELL everyone the Good News of Salvation!

You must be thinking of a heathen cult or something else that Lives and Thrives when people try to keep it a secret. Hide that lamp under someone elses bushel, dude!

[thevicar1]

AMERICANS ARE NOT ONLY BACKWARD (CANNOT HAVE A WOMAN ON TOP PLACES ..... INDIA HAD A WOMAN PRIME MINISTER AND CURRENTLY A WOMAN AS PRESIDENT) BUT ALSO VERY IMMORAL WITH NO VALUES (MANY TOP POLITICIANS INVOLVED IN *** SCANDALS) ------------------------------------------------------ Posted by Good4Always


Yeah, we need to be more like India, suffering from malaria as we cook our freshly-caught beetles over an Elephant-dung fire!!!

[davidy007]

I''m sorry, but don''t these stampedes seem to happen weekly now?

"Sorry honey, I''ll be late for curry, got caught in the 6 PM stampede"...

[davidy007]

Note to self: "stay away from crowds or outsourced helpdesks that have more than 100 Indians within a confined area...If you find yourself in this position be very, very quiet...."

[minnick8-2009]

INDIA HAD A WOMAN PRIME MINISTER AND CURRENTLY A WOMAN AS PRESIDENT) BUT ALSO VERY IMMORAL WITH NO VALUES (MANY TOP POLITICIANS INVOLVED IN *** SCANDALS) ----------------------------------------
-------------- Posted by Good4Always

Yes, and the world is in the condition it is in because of the impeccable morality of all the men involved.

[myopinion1]

I have heard of people being crushed in America at rock concerts. They sure must be a backward people to let that happen.

Posted by minnick8 at 11:02 AM

Okkkkkkk, this happened in the US what, twice? It happens CONSTANTLY at these events. Naturally, you had to have this explained to you.

[xmanborg]

If they all just had stayed home and watched it on TV and had televangelists with TV coverage then nobody would have died.

[minnick8-2009]

I have heard of people being crushed in America at rock concerts. They sure must be a backward people to let that happen.

By Minnick

To Good4Always

My post above was sarcasm in reference to the people of India being so backward as to let themselves be crushed.

I wouldn''t expect you to understand since the English Language isn''t your area of expertise.

[minnick8-2009]

If they all just had stayed home and watched it on TV and had televangelists with TV coverage then nobody would have died.

Posted by XmanBorg

But do the poor souls of India have TV''s to stay home and watch? Do they have electricity to power the TV''s to stay home and watch?

[minnick8-2009]

Naturally, you had to have this explained to you.

Posted by MyOpinion1

Naturally!

[minnick8-2009]

Wake up and smell the coffee, please.

Posted by Voltaire777

Sorry, coffee is against my religion.

[minnick8-2009]

India is over populated anyway. Now there are 168 fewer of them. I hope my credit card contact wasn''t one of them.

[docpeter1953]

But do the poor souls of India have TV''''s to stay home and watch? Do they have electricity to power the TV''''s to stay home and watch?

Posted by minnick8 at 02:11 PM : Sep 30, 2008

___________________

Don''t know about that, BUT they have computers and telephones. I know thisa because everytime I call for help with my internet, cable, telephone I have to learn their accent all over again so I can understand what they want me to do to fix the d@ng thing.

[minnick8-2009]

everytime I call for help with my internet, cable, telephone I have to learn their accent all over again so I can understand what they want me to do to fix the d@ng thing.

Posted by docpeter1953

Irritating, isn''t it?

[rsoxfan1123]

Its ironic that at a temple dedicated to a "goddess" that demanded human scarifices for centures she just got a whole bunch more.

[rsoxfan1123]

sacrifices I meant

[easeup-2009]

Don''''t know about that, BUT they have computers and telephones. I know thisa because everytime I call for help with my internet, cable, telephone I have to learn their accent all over again so I can understand what they want me to do to fix the d@ng thing.

Posted by docpeter1953 at 02:22 PM : Sep 30, 2008

"First I must ask you to reboot your machine...."

[incog-nito]

Its ironic that at a temple dedicated to a "goddess" that demanded human scarifices for centures she just got a whole bunch more.

Posted by rsoxfan1123 at 03:15 PM : Sep 30, 2008

Your assertion would be a lot more persuasive if it was not made up out of thin air.

[incog-nito]

Don''''''''t know about that, BUT they have computers and telephones. I know thisa because everytime I call for help with my internet, cable, telephone I have to learn their accent all over again so I can understand what they want me to do to fix the d@ng thing.

Posted by docpeter1953 at 02:22 PM : Sep 30, 2008

You can thank the "American" corporations that outsource American jobs to other countries for that.

[caliman95]

Oh man. Why so much hatred towrds other human being? People died and let them rest in piece.

[thevicar1]

Oh man. Why so much hatred towrds other human being? People died and let them rest in piece ------------------------------------------ Posted by CALIMAN95


You mean ''peace'', dont you?

Im sure the stampede already caused them to rest in piece(s).

[thevicar1]

You can thank the "American" corporations that outsource American jobs to other countries for that ------------------------- Posted by incog-nito



If we are gonna outsource stampeing religious whack-os, India would be the place to go, eh?