Dozens of pilgrims killed in India stampede: TV

[muriel_volestrangler]

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (Reuters) - Dozens of Hindu devotees returning from a shrine were killed after a road accident sparked a stampede in the southern Indian state of Kerala Friday, TV news channels reported.

Temple officials estimated the death toll at up to 100, Kerala Temple Affairs Minister Ramachandran Kadannappally told Reuters by phone.

Hundreds of thousands of people had gathered at the hill shrine of Sabarimala Friday, the last day of an annual religious festival.

A bus from the neighboring state of Karnataka carrying pilgrims back from the shrine collided with a jeep and then lost control, running over pilgrims who were walking nearby, Kadannappally said. The accident sparked a stampede.

http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE70D5LJ20110114

What a waste. Why is it worth doing something dangerous for a myth?

[struggle4progress]

1. This is a known hazard associated with large crowds

Stampede at German Music Festival Kills 18
By JUDY DEMPSEY
Published: July 24, 2010
BERLIN — A stampede inside a tunnel at a popular techno music festival killed 18 people and injured dozens more on Saturday, police officials said ... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/world/europe/25germany.html

11 Killed in Morocco Concert Stampede
By Mary Papenfuss, Newser Staff
Posted May 24, 2009 7:04 AM CDT
At least 11 people were killed by a fan stampede after a Moroccan concert, reports the BBC. Some 40 others were injured when a wire fence collapsed, causing a mob to surge forward at the event packed with 70,000 spectators ... http://www.newser.com/story/59973/11-killed-in-morocco-concert-stampede.html

Indonesia rock concert stampede kills 10
JAKARTA | Sat Feb 9, 2008 9:48pm EST
JAKARTA (Reuters) - A stampede at a rock concert in Indonesia's West Java province killed 10 people and injured several, police said on Sunday ... http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSJAK2636020080210

[ZombieHorde]

7. The American version is called Black Friday. nt

[Bad Thoughts]

2. What a waste to put your faith in driving!

The story is about driving, right? Otherwise, it has only a tentative connection to religion.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. No, it's about a stampede; most people died from suffocation

There are conflicting versions on how the tragedy took place. Idukki district collector Ashok Kumar Singh has submitted an initial report to the government saying a small accident between an auto and jeep caused a commotion which triggered the stampede. Most of them died due to suffocation, heavy blows and blood-coating, said doctors.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Sabarimala-toll-rises-to-104-over-50-hurt/Article1-650758.aspx

This is about a manufactured crowd that endangered its members. Religion was the reason for the crowd.

[Bad Thoughts]

4. If it had happened at a political rally or the inauguration ...

... the problem would be politics? Libruls? Kenyan fasco-marxism?

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. It would be people who organise unsafe events

eg those who encourage crowds like this. struggel4progress's comparison to pop events that go horribly wrong is the closest - mass hysteria that stops people thinking.

[struggle4progress]

8. Seven killed in Kenya soccer stampede

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69M1XP20101023

Deadly Soccer Stampede Kills 19 in Ivory Coast
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2009-03-30-voa51-68727487.html

[struggle4progress]

9. 19 dead in Love Parade stampede

Nineteen people have been killed in Germany during the country’s annual “Love Parade”, held this year in the former industrial Ruhr city of Duisburg.
6:03PM BST 24 Jul 2010 ...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/7908522/19-dead-in-Love-Parade-stampede.html

[struggle4progress]

10. Photos: At least 339 dead in Cambodian stampede

Reuters November 22, 2010 – 1:40 pm
... the catastrophe .. took place on the third and final day of the Bon Om Touk water festival, which celebrates the reversing of the current of the Tonle Sap River ...
http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/11/22/180-dead-in-cambodian-stampede/

[Bad Thoughts]

11. 100 Satan Worshippers killed by Heavy Metal

A religious event, no?

]By this time, the nightclub's Wheelock AS fire alarm system had made everyone acutely aware of the impending danger, and, although there were four possible exits, most people naturally headed for the front door through which they had entered. The ensuing stampede led to a crush in the narrow hallway leading to that exit, quickly blocking the exit completely and resulting in numerous deaths and injuries among the patrons and staff.

[onager]

6. This usually happens to Muslims during the hajj

n/t

[PassingFair]

12. Here's a travel blog from 2007 showing the process at Sabarimala.

As a person who avoids crowds like the plague,
I can't understand people who would willingly
want to be in the middle of this.

At least most "pilgrims" are men, the women
seem to keep the children away from scenes
of such mass foolishness.

http://tonytabla.blogspot.com/2007/12/sabarimala-photos-i-found-on-net.html