A stampede-like situation emerged suddenly during the traditional Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on Friday when elephants that took part in the religious procession got loose, stampeding over some of the devotees and causing widespread panic amidst the crowded Khadia area.
The pandemonium erupted at about 10:15 am, when Rath Yatra traversed the congested streets of Ahmedabad’s old city. A festive elephant suddenly broke ranks from the procession and turned around in the opposite direction, the Indian Express reported. At least a couple of other elephants also deviated from the path, increasing the confusion.
A clip posted by PTI depicts the terrifying moment the crowd ran for cover as mahouts tried to take control of the animals. The clip shows one elephant running towards a densely crowded area, with people running for their lives through the narrow lanes.
Injuries Reported, Security on High Alert
Reports have confirmed that minimum two individuals were hurt in the incident. Nevertheless, because of timely action from the authorities as well as mahouts, the situation was under control soon thereafter.
The Ahmedabad Jagannath Rath Yatra features traditionally a dazzling array of 18 elephants, more than 100 trucks, 30 akhadas (city gymnasiums), and bhajan mandlis (devotional singing groups). This year’s procession stretches 16 kilometers long, with several trucks turned into themed tableaux of religious and cultural symbols.
AI-Based Crowd Monitoring System Activated
With a predicted turnout of 14 to 15 lakh devotees, this year’s Rath Yatra has witnessed a record security deployment of 23,800 staff at work in the city. For the first time, the Gujarat government launched an Artificial Intelligence-based surveillance system to ensure real-time tracking and prevent stampede-like conditions.
An official from the government revealed that the AI system aims to observe crowd density and spot anomalies to allow for rapid intervention if the situation goes out of control. “The AI system will aid real-time monitoring along the route of the procession as lakhs of people come out to witness Lord Jagannath and his siblings,” the official press release further stated.
The procession is proceeding under increased security, with officials maintaining close vigilance to ensure safety for everyone involved.