Tragedy Strikes Annual Deviramma Jatra as Devotees Injured in Chikkamagaluru

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, November 1, 2024, Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka :A significant religious event turned chaotic on Thursday morning at the annual Deviramma Jatra held at the Deviramma Hill Temple, where several devotees were injured amidst a massive surge of visitors attempting to reach the temple for darshan.

The temple, situated in the scenic Chandra Drona hill range of the Western Ghats, traditionally attracts thousands of worshippers, especially during the Deepavali festival. This year's event saw an overwhelming influx of devotees, resulting in a distressing situation as many attempted to ascend the hill, leading to a stampede-like scenario.

As eager devotees pushed forward in their quest to pay homage, the lack of effective crowd management became evident. The steep, rain-soaked terrain—made perilous by two consecutive days of heavy rainfall—contributed to the danger, causing several individuals to slip, fall, and be trampled in the ensuing chaos.

Local authorities and temple management acted swiftly, deploying emergency services to the scene to assist the injured. At least 12 devotees sustained minor injuries; some received on-site treatment, while others were transported to nearby hospitals for further care. Local health facilities were placed on high alert to ensure that those with serious injuries received prompt medical attention.

In light of the adverse weather conditions and the surge in visitor numbers, the incident has raised serious concerns regarding crowd management protocols at such large gatherings. Witnesses reported that the combination of slippery paths and the sheer volume of people created an untenable situation that could have been mitigated with better planning.

The Deviramma Hill Temple, which is only open once a year during the Deepavali festival, remains a crucial pilgrimage site for local and regional devotees. The incident has sparked discussions about improving safety measures to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again in the future.

As the community comes to terms with the day’s events, the focus now shifts to healing for the injured and a review of safety protocols to safeguard the sanctity and safety of future religious gatherings.