The stampede in Sikar district’s Khatu Shyam temple earlier this week, in which three women were killed, has shifted focus on a similar incident at Chamunda Devi temple in Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort in 2008, which had claimed 216 lives. A survey is proposed to be undertaken to find out the present condition of the kin of the Mehrangarh victims.
The talks are underway with the office-bearers of management committees of temples across Rajasthan as well as their priests and religious heads to evolve strategies for managing the crowds of devotees. The emphasis is on making corridors for pedestrians at the religious places and ensuring strict compliance with the guidelines in order to deal with the pilgrim rush.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who reviewed the security arrangements during fairs and festivals at the religious places in a high-level meeting here, said the decisions would be taken for making better arrangements for pilgrims and devotees after the completion of talks with the religious leaders.
