Pune: Stampede Like Situation At Shivneri Fort During Shiv Jayanti Celebrations; Several Devotees Injured
Pune: Stampede Like Situation At Shivneri Fort During Shiv Jayanti Celebrations; Several Devotees Injured
Pune, February 19, 2026: A major incident occurred at Shivneri Fort in Junnar, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, during Shiv Jayanti celebrations on Wednesday. Massive crowds gathered at the historic fort to mark the birth anniversary of the Maratha king, leading to a stampede in which several devotees, including women and children, were injured.
Lakhs of people from across Maharashtra had arrived to participate in the Shiv Jayanti 2026 festivities and to pay respects at the birthplace of Shivaji Maharaj. However, the administration allegedly failed to manage the swelling crowd effectively. The situation spiralled out of control near the Ambar Khana area.
From midnight onwards, heavy footfall was reported on the approach roads to the fort. The congestion worsened at narrow entry points such as Hathi Darwaza and Ganesh Darwaza, where a large number of visitors converged at the same time. With inadequate police deployment and limited crowd regulation measures, panic broke out, resulting in a stampede.
Several people sustained minor injuries and were rushed to the government hospital in Junnar for treatment. Authorities confirmed that no fatalities have been reported so far.
The incident has raised serious concerns about crowd management and preparedness during major public events. Every year, Shiv Jayanti draws huge gatherings to Shivneri Fort, prompting questions about why stricter arrangements were not put in place in advance.
Devotees and local residents have now demanded a permanent crowd management system at the fort, along with better planning of entry and exit routes and stronger police presence during large-scale celebrations to prevent such mishaps in the future.
