Ujjain: Accounts from injured devotees and witnesses at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain are raising questions over crowd management after a stampede-like situation broke out near Harsiddhi Chauraha on Monday.

While devotees described a rapidly swelling crowd and barricades collapsing during the rush for darshan at the Nath Chandreshwar Temple, those who witnessed the aftermath alleged that injured people did not receive immediate assistance.

One Ujjain resident also questioned claims that no patients had been admitted following the incident, saying he had personally seen an injured child with a fractured leg being treated at a hospital after being brought in a Mahakal ambulance.

Sagar, one of the devotees injured in the incident, said he had spent several hours in the queue before reaching Harsiddhi Chauraha.

According to him, devotees waited there for around two hours as the crowd continued to grow. Since it was time for the aarti, devotees were stopped at the location, he said.

Sagar alleged that the situation changed suddenly when the barricades were opened.

“Suddenly, the barricades were opened and a stampede broke out,” he said.

He said a tent and the barricades subsequently fell, trapping both his legs underneath.

“The tent fell, and all the barricades fell too. Both of my legs were caught under the barricade. One of my legs is fractured,” Sagar said.

He also alleged that there was no immediate help from those managing the crowd.

“Nobody helped me. Only one man came and helped me; he carried me to a health camp, from where I was taken away in an ambulance,” he said.

Sagar's mother, Meenu, said the incident happened while devotees were moving towards Nath Chandreshwar Mandir for darshan.

“This occurred at Harsiddhi Chauraha. He came under a barricade when he was going for a darshan at Nath Chandreshwar Mandir. A stampede had broken out there,” she said.

She also alleged that her son did not receive immediate assistance.

“Nobody helped him. Only one man carried him here,” Meenu said.

Manohar Bhavsar, a Ujjain resident who went to the hospital after learning that his friend's child had been injured, challenged claims that no patients had been admitted following the incident.

Bhavsar said the child had gone to Mahakal Temple to offer prayers in the morning and was later admitted to hospital with a fractured leg.

“News is running on the media that there are no patients in the hospital, but I have seen with my own eyes that my friend's child, came in Mahakal's ambulance itself, has a fractured leg, and is admitted to the hospital,” he said.

Bhavsar also alleged that there were claims from the administration that nothing had happened at Mahakal.

“And news is going around from the administration that nothing happened in Mahakal,” he said.

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He added that the family had been told the injured child would require an operation.

“The doctor said it would take two to three days for his operation,” Bhavsar said.

'She isn't able to speak, and her tooth is broken': Another family recounts ordeal

Aarti, who had travelled from Gwalior with her daughter for darshan, said her daughter was also injured during the incident.

According to Aarti, her daughter became dizzy amid the crowd and fell onto a railing. She subsequently lost consciousness and was taken away in an ambulance.

“What do I say... We came from Gwalior for darshan, and we are now troubled. She hasn't even had water; she isn't able to speak, and her tooth is broken,” Aarti said.

She said her daughter was taken away in an ambulance after she became unconscious.

Nag Panchami rush at Mahakaleshwar Temple

The incident occurred on Nag Panchami, which coincided with Monday during the holy month of Shravan, when the Nagchandreshwar Temple atop the Mahakaleshwar Temple was opened to devotees.

The Nagchandreshwar Temple is opened only once a year, for 24 hours on Nag Panchami. Devotees thronged the temple to seek darshan and the blessings of Lord Nagchandreshwar.

With ANI inputs