Woman dies, several injured in stampede during Kalash Yatra in Gwalior

A woman lost her life and several others were injured after a stampede broke out during the Kalash Yatra of the Navgrah Peeth in Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. The incident occurred amid a large gathering of devotees participating in the religious procession, triggering panic at the venue.

The deceased woman has been identified as Rati Sahu, a resident of Hanuman Colony. More than six people, mostly women, were injured in the stampede and were rushed to Dabra Hospital. One of the injured women, identified as Vimla, remains in critical condition and is undergoing treatment.

Following the death, family members of the deceased brought her body from the hospital to the procession site and accused the administration of failing to make adequate arrangements. The situation briefly turned tense as relatives and locals demanded accountability for the incident.

At the time of the stampede, the Pran Pratishtha ceremony was being conducted at the Navgrah Temple, where a religious programme is scheduled to continue until February 20. Former home minister Narottam Mishra was present at the venue as part of the ceremony.

Officials said the exact cause of the stampede is yet to be ascertained. Ambulances were deployed soon after the incident, and police have begun reviewing the crowd management measures as concerns grow over safety arrangements for the remaining days of the event.