A year after the tragedy at Chamunda Devi temple in Jodhpur, on the first day of Navaratri on September 30, 2008, when 244 people suffocated to death in a stampede, memories of the horrific episode linger on. Even as the Jodhpur district administration asserted that security arrangements were greatly increased following the tragedy, there have been few takers so far this year.

Meanwhile, the government-appointed commission, headed by a retired high court justice, to ascertain the cause of the tragedy has requested for a third extension.

The incident occurred in a narrow passageway that leads to the deity in the temple, where around 300 devotees had crowded. Senior officials had then stated that the stampede was caused after a few devotees slipped and triggered a chain reaction. The victims, all men aged between 15 and 25, suffocated to death.

Jodhpur District Collector Naveen Mahajan said, “Though there are no numbers available, there is no doubt that the number of visitors to the temple has reduced greatly. However, the arrangements this year are far more elaborate than last year, including stronger barricades, CCTV surveillance, more personnel and separate queues for men and women.” This year’s arrangements include barricades outside the fort complex itself, which was absent in 2008, as well as breathalyser tests.

Of those who perished in the stampede, 10 youths were from Kallal Colony, located just outside the Mehrangarh Fort. A local resident Sunil Rajoria said, “Almost nobody from this colony has visited the temple this year. Besides the memory of the tragedy, there’s also a fear that another such incident may occur.” He added, “In the years before the stampede, around 8,000 to 10,000 people would visit the temple on the first two days of Navaratri, now there are hardly hundreds.”

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