Ujjain: At least 13 devotees fainted amid heavy overcrowding at Ujjain’s Nagchandreshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh on Monday, as Nag Panchami coincided with the third Monday of Shravan.
The incident occurred near Harsiddhi Chauraha, where devotees were waiting in barricaded areas for darshan at the temple, which opens only once a year on Nag Panchami.
Panic reportedly spread after rumours of an electrical current leak near a transformer, leading to a sudden crowd surge and collapse of barricades.
The injured were taken to a district hospital and are under observation. Police and administrative officials reached the spot and brought the situation under control.
Devotee Sagar said he had waited several hours before the barricades were opened, after which a stampede-like situation developed and his leg was trapped under a barricade.
The incident occurred as lakhs of devotees gathered in Ujjain, with around 5.5 lakh people reportedly having already taken darshan. The annual opening of Nagchandreshwar Temple draws large crowds as devotees get access to the shrine for only 24 hours.
The temple, atop the Mahakaleshwar complex, houses an ancient idol of Shiva and Parvati seated on a coiled serpent.
