A chaotic situation unfolded at Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, as massive crowds gathered to celebrate his birth anniversary. Several media reported had dubed the incident as "stampede" but the Supredintent of Police rejected the claims and said it was not a stampede. The top official said three people were injured after one of the devotees slipped. Due to this, more people fell on the stairs and three of them got injured.
He said, "If you look at the Shiv Janmasthan here, on top of the Shivneri Fort in Junnar, a large number of people have been coming here for darshan since yesterday morning, and darshan continued throughout the night...One of the devotees slipped, and due to this, more people fell on the stairs and three of them got injured. There is no stampede,".
Overcrowding And Lack Of Management
Groups of youth carrying the Shiv Jyot (ceremonial flame) and members of various organisations from across Maharashtra began ascending the fort late at night. By the early hours, the fort premises reached maximum capacity, far ahead of the main scheduled ceremony.
Eyewitnesses noted that the limited police presence struggled to manage the escalating numbers, leading to moments of high tension. The congestion was most severe near the narrow entry points of Hathi Darwaza and Ganesh Darwaza in the Amberkhana area. As thousands attempted to push forward through these bottleneck passages, panic ensued.
Casualties And Infrastructure Damage
The sudden rush caused several visitors, including women and children, to sustain injuries. Reports indicate that the pressure from the crowd was so intense that some railings along the path gave way. Those injured were promptly evacuated and transported to the government hospital in Junnar for medical attention.