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Journalism of Courage
The stampede at Chamunda temple in Rajasthan, which has taken a heavy toll of life, brings back memories of a similar tragedy at the Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur district in August, which had left 141 persons dead and at least 80 others injured.
The state’s Home and CID departments were quick to reiterate its instructions to all deputy commissioners and SPs to strictly follow the guidelines recently approved by the Cabinet for crowd management at temples, especially during Navratri and festivals.
Besides Navratri, which already has started attracting huge rush of pilgrims at the famous temples, like Jawalaji, Chintpurni, Chamuda, near Dharamshala, and Naina Devi, the government is attaching a lot of importance to the upcoming international Kullu Dussehra, beginning next week.
CM Prem Kumar Dhumal says the government has already asked the police and deputy commissioners to personally monitor the arragements and ensure safety of the pilgrims. “During the Dussehra festival, IGP (Law and Order) S.R. Mardi will be camping at Kullu to oversee the arrangements,” he says.
Mandi Range DIG Anurag Garg is reported to have visited Kullu twice and taken stock of the arrangements. Says Mardi, “In the next two to three days,I will also reach Kullu.”
Mardi was the first senior police official to have reached Naina Devi immediately after the tragedy and had camped at the site for almost a week. Since he has the first-hand experience at Naina Devi, the government has put him in a supervisory role at Kullu.
After the Naina Devi tragedy, where the local administration had come under sharp criticism, the government had set up an inquiry headed by Mandi Divisional Commissioner Ashwani Kapoor. The report of the inquiry, which severely indicted the Bilaspur administration, was accepted by the Cabinet last month and recommended action against the erring officials.
