At least 27 pilgrims, 13 of them women, died and 20 others were injured in a stampede at a major bathing spot on the banks of the Godavari river where a huge crowd of devotees had gathered on the opening day of 'Pushkaram' festival in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh today.
The major religious event is held once in 12 years, drawing hundreds of people from different parts of the state to take dip in the river on the auspicious occasion.
India has a number of festivals that attract a crowd in huge numbers. Over the years, stampedes during such festivals have become a common occurance. Here are a list of major stampedes that the country has seen in the last 10 years:
October 3, 2014: 32 people died in a stampede after Ravan-burning at Dushhera festival at Patna's Gandhi Maidan
January 18, 2014: 18 people died in a stampede outside the residence of Dawoodi Bohra spiritual leader Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin at Mumbai's Malabar Hill
October 13, 2013: 89 killed and over 100 injured in stampede near Ratangarh Hindu temple in Datia, Madhya Pradesh
February 10, 2013: 36 people killed in a stampede at the Allahabad railway station during the Kumbh Mela
November 19, 2012: 20 killed in a stampede at a ghat in Patna during Chhath festival
November 8, 2011: 22 killed in stampede in Haridwar at Har-ki-Pauri ghat on banks of the Ganga river
January 14, 2011: 106 pilgrims killed in a stampede at Sabarimala shrine in Kerela; over 100 injured
March 4, 2010: 63 people killed in a stampede at Ram Janki Temple in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, as people collected to get free clothes and food from a self-styled godman
September 30, 2008: Over 120 killed and 200 injured in a stampede at the hill-top Chamunda Devi temple in Jodhpur in Rajasthan, during Navratra festival.
August 3, 2006: Nearly 150 devotees killed and over 400 injured in stampede in Himachal Pradesh's Naina Devi temple.
January 26, 2005: Nearly 350 devotees killed at a religious fair at Mandher Devi temple near Wai in Satara district in western Maharashtra. Over 200 injured.
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