A tragic stampede near the Sabarimala shrine in Kerala claimed 102 lives and left over 50 injured on Friday night. The chaos began when a jeep lost control and ran into a large crowd of pilgrims gathered to witness the Makarajyothi celestial light. The incident occurred in Pulmedu, a narrow jungle path seven kilometers from the shrine, making rescue operations challenging.
Bodies were taken to Vandiperiyar Hospital, with 54 victims identified so far. Many of the injured were rushed to medical colleges in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Most victims were from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, with unconfirmed reports of a Sri Lankan national among the deceased.
Witnesses and officials noted the overwhelming crowd far exceeded expectations, contributing to the disaster. Survivors criticized the lack of security and late response by authorities. Kerala's Chief Minister ordered a judicial inquiry, and the Prime Minister announced financial aid for the victims' families.
The tragedy has sparked calls for better crowd management and infrastructure at the shrine, which attracts millions of pilgrims annually.