India has witnessed a tragic series of stampedes in 2025, resulting in the deaths of at least 129 people across the country. From crowded temples to political rallies, sports celebrations, and railway stations, the year has been marked by a disturbing pattern of fatalities caused by uncontrolled crowd surges. These incidents underscore the challenges of managing large gatherings in India, where religious devotion, festive enthusiasm, and mass events often lead to dangerously overcrowded spaces, putting lives at risk.

The latest incident occurred on November 1, at the Venkateswara Swamy temple in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, on the occasion of Ekadashi. According to local authorities, nine people, including eight women and a young boy, died in the stampede. Survivors blamed poor crowd management and the use of a narrow path that served as both entry and exit, which made the situation worse. They argued that if the temple management had informed authorities in advance about the expected surge of devotees, the tragedy might have been avoided.

This Andhra temple tragedy is the eighth major stampede recorded in 2025. A closer look at these incidents provides insight into the factors contributing to such disasters and the recurring patterns of human and administrative error.

Karur stampede (September 27, 2025)
One of the deadliest stampedes this year occurred in Karur, Tamil Nadu, during a public rally by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor-politician Vijay. Forty-one people died and over 50 were injured when a crowd thrice the expected size surged at the venue. The organizers had prepared for about 10,000 attendees, but nearly 30,000 people showed up. Delays in the arrival of Vijay, who reached the venue four and a half hours late, further worsened the situation. The Supreme Court subsequently ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident, describing it as a “huge man-made disaster.”

Haridwar stampede (July 27, 2025)
In Uttarakhand’s Haridwar, a stampede at the Mansa Devi temple killed nine people, including a child. The panic was reportedly triggered by a rumor that an electric cable had broken and that current was flowing through the stairs leading to the temple. The incident left thirty people injured and prompted a magisterial inquiry to investigate the causes of the stampede.

Bengaluru RCB IPL victory celebrations (June 4, 2025)
Sports events have also proven to be flashpoints for mass casualties. Celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden Indian Premier League victory drew an estimated crowd of three lakh people. Eleven people lost their lives, and 50 were injured as the crowd surged uncontrollably. Subsequent investigations by the Karnataka government cited poor coordination and lack of adequate safety measures as contributing factors to the tragedy.

Goa temple stampede (May 3, 2025)
At the Lairai Devi Zatra temple in North Goa, six people died and 70 were injured. The incident reportedly began when a devotee accidentally touched a light bulb with his cane and received an electric shock, causing panic. The temple grounds, with 50,000 to 70,000 attendees that day, were sloping, which further exacerbated the stampede. Authorities noted that the terrain and inadequate crowd control measures significantly contributed to the casualties.

New Delhi railway station stampede (February 15, 2025)
Railway stations have also been sites of fatal crowd incidents. At New Delhi railway station, eighteen people, including four children, died as passengers rushed to board trains to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Mismanagement, including announcements of train arrivals and overcrowded platforms, contributed to the stampede. The incident highlighted the challenges in managing passenger flows during peak travel periods.

Maha Kumbh Mela stampede in Prayagraj (January 29, 2025)
Earlier this year, a stampede during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj claimed 30 lives and injured 60 others. Devotees rushed to take a holy dip at the Sangam area on Mauni Amavasya, one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar. Crowds broke through police barricades and ran toward a narrow riverbank strip, resulting in the deaths of those trampled along the way. A judicial commission was subsequently established to investigate the incident.

Tirupati stampede (January 9, 2025)
The Tirumala Hills temple in Andhra Pradesh also saw a deadly stampede this year, claiming six lives. Devotees rushed for tickets for the Vaikunta Dwara Darshanam, leading to a chaotic surge at the entrance. The long waiting hours and sudden opening of the gates triggered the incident. Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board members later issued apologies for the incident and sought forgiveness from the devotees.

Collectively, these eight major incidents in 2025 underscore the recurring risks associated with large gatherings in India. Common factors include inadequate crowd management, narrow passageways, miscommunication, and delayed coordination between organizers and authorities. In many cases, rumors or unexpected incidents, such as electrical shocks or delayed arrivals, acted as immediate triggers for panic.

Experts note that India’s massive population and cultural penchant for mass religious events make crowd control a critical public safety concern. While devotees’ faith and enthusiasm are factors in drawing enormous crowds, the lack of standardized safety protocols and emergency response systems contributes significantly to fatalities. Authorities often struggle to anticipate the scale of turnout, manage crowd flow, and ensure that exits and emergency routes are accessible.

The repeated tragedies have also sparked debate over accountability. In several incidents, administrative lapses and poor preparation by event organizers were cited as direct causes of death. The Karur stampede, in particular, has been described as a “man-made disaster,” while temple authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Goa have faced criticism for failing to coordinate effectively with local police and emergency services.

As the country reflects on the loss of 129 lives in 2025, the emphasis is increasingly on proactive measures to prevent future stampedes. Recommendations include better crowd forecasting, wider and separate entry and exit points at large venues, deployment of trained personnel, real-time monitoring of crowd density, and public awareness campaigns to ensure orderly conduct during mass gatherings.

The year’s incidents, culminating in the recent Srikakulam stampede, underscore the urgent need for systemic reforms in crowd management across India. With religious observances, political rallies, sports events, and cultural gatherings attracting thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, authorities and organizers must implement comprehensive safety protocols to protect lives and prevent further tragedies.

In summary, 2025 has witnessed eight significant stampede incidents across India, claiming 129 lives. From temples in Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Tirupati to the mass religious gatherings of the Maha Kumbh Mela, railway stations, and IPL celebrations, these tragedies highlight recurring vulnerabilities in crowd management. As the nation mourns those lost, the imperative remains clear: improve planning, enhance safety measures, and ensure that mass events in India can proceed without risking human life.