Pune Shivneri Fort Stampede: Devotees injured amid overcrowding during night-long darshan

Several devotees were injured at the Shiv Janmasthan atop Shivneri Fort in Junnar, Pune, due to overcrowding.

Pune Rural SP Sandeep Singh Gill told ANI that a large number of people had been visiting the site for darshan since yesterday morning. He added that the darshan continued throughout the night.



“One of the devotees slipped, and this caused others to fall on the stairs, resulting in three injuries,” he said.

As per Gill, there was no stampede.

Emergency services responded promptly, transferring all the injured to the government hospital in Junnar. Officials said that treatment is currently ongoing at the facility.

The police personnel present at the spot immediately assisted the injured and ensured that the movement of people continued smoothly, the official said.

"We have deployed additional police force and the movement of people is now taking place smoothly," he said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be visiting the fort later in the day to pay tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The legendary warrior king was born on February 19, 1630, at Shivneri Fort in Pune district.