Temple tragedy due to VIP culture: Eyewitnesses say officials were busy giving preferential treatments to their families

The VIP culture has led to the stampede that left two dead and several others injured at Banke Bihari temple during Janmashtami celebrations in Mathura on Friday, said Dinesh Goswami, who was part of the erstwhile temple committee. The police administration refuted the charge.

Goswami, an eyewitness, narrated the tragic incident to media persons claiming that the senior police officers and the temple managements were busy trying to rub shoulders with the VIPs and making arrangements for their relatives instead of controlling the resting crowd waiting to see the opening of the door for ‘darshan’.

“I have video footage to show how those responsible for controlling the crowd were busy treating the VIPs and making special arrangements for their family members even before the door for the darshan opened. They should have anticipated the mishap as the crowd started swelling at the door,” claimed Goswami. He demanded a high level probe, transfer of senior officials of the police force and members of the temple management for not “imparting their duties”.

He added: “The issue will not end here. It is a matter of two lives.”  Had the police authorities and temple managements applied timely wisdom, the mishap could have been averted. “They should have anticipated it as the crowd was swelling for darshan.” Several eyewitnesses claimed that as many as 50 persons fell unconscious.

Goswami also said some of the VIPs were having darshan from the balcony so the gates of the stairs were closed leading to further chaos.

Meanwhile, Mathura SSP Abhishek Yadav denied the allegations saying if his family members were not there. He reportedly challenged if one can show any of his family members present there. He refused the charge that police officials were making special arrangements for their family members instead of controlling the crowd.

Earlier, the SSP reportedly told ANI: “During Mangla Arti at Banke Bihari in Mathura, one devotee fainted at the exit gate of the temple due to which movement of devotees was restricted. As there was a huge crowd, many inside the premises felt suffocated due to the humidity. Two people have lost their lives.”

The incident took place the same day as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated an Annapurna Bhawan to provide free food to the needy pilgrims. The chief minister expressed gratitude to seer Vijai Kaushal Maharaj for being instrumental in starting the facility.

-INDIA NEWS STREAM