RIP "Major accident during aarti at Banke Bihari temple in Mathura, two dead, many injured"

 

Two devotees died of suffocation in a stampede during the Mangala Aarti, which is held once a year on Janmashtami, at the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan . About six people were injured in the accident. The accident happened around 2 am on Saturday. At the time of the accident, a heavy police force including District Magistrate, SSP, Municipal Commissioner were present in the Banke Bihari temple.

In the Banke Bihari temple, on the birth anniversary of Lord Shri Krishna, at 12 o'clock in the night, the Mahabhishek of Shri Vigraha of the beloved Thakur Banke Bihari Maharaj was performed. After this, Thakurji was made to wear a yellow dress and adorned in the form of a child. After this, Thakurji appeared on a special silver-built throne in Jagmohan and gave darshan to the devotees.

After this, the crowd gathered to witness the Mangala Aarti. At around 1:55 pm, more people gathered outside the temple than capacity. During this, two devotees suffocated in the stampede. These include Nirmala Devi of Noida Sector 99 and Ram Prasad Vishwakarma, 65, resident of Rukmini Vihar Colony of Vrindavan. Ram Prasad was originally from Jabalpur. During this many people fainted.

Police and private security personnel present in Banke Bihari temple sent unconscious devotees to Ram Krishna Mission, Braj Health Care and Sau Shaiya Hospital in Vrindavan. SSP Abhishek Yadav says that the accident happened due to excessive suffocation. At present the situation is under control. After the accident, the relatives who reached the hospital took the dead body without conducting a post-mortem.

Shrinath Goswami, the official of the temple, told that there is no tradition of Mangala Aarti in Thakur Banke Bihari temple.Thakurji's Mangala Aarti is held only once in a year on Janmashtami. On this day, Kanha becomes a Thakur and gives darshan to the devotees at night. Even at the time of the accident, Mangala Aarti was taking place at 1:55 am. After that the doors were closed for some time. In the meantime, more than the capacity devotees gathered in the temple premises.