2024.08.19 (Vrindavan Today News): An elderly devotee from Haryana passed away on Sunday after his health deteriorated due to the crowd pressure inside the Thakur Banke Bihari temple. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead.
The 68-year-old devotee, Manchand Saini, a resident of Shahabad village in Kurukshetra, Haryana, had come to the temple with acquaintances for darshan. While he managed to complete the darshan, he experienced difficulty breathing and lost consciousness while exiting the temple. Security personnel took him to the on-site doctors, who referred him to a 100-bededd hospital, a unit of the District Hospital Mathura.
Manchand was transported to the hospital via the temple’s ambulance. Upon examination, doctors declared him dead, suspecting a heart attack as the probable cause. The family, without seeking any police intervention, took the body with them.
Devotees coming to Vrindavan are facing chaos due to the mismanagement on the administration’s part. A large number of devotees turned up for darshan in the weekend. The city of Vrindavan was over – crowded, the vehicles were seen plying on the road freely without any regulation. It created the situation of congestion in the core part of the city. Meanwhile, there was no space left to set foot in the Banke Bihari Temple. There was a huge pressure of crowd inside the temple. A large number of devotees flock to the Banke Bihari temple on the occasion of Rakshabandhan on Monday and Shri Krishna Janmashtami on August 26.
Four Other Devotees Experience Health Issues at the Temple
Later in the day, four other devotees also faced health problems inside the temple due to the crowd. They were given first aid and subsequently recovered. Among them were 58-year-old Indu, wife of Shivkumar from Faridabad, Haryana; 40-year-old Ajay Kumar from Deoria; 31-year-old Saurabh, son of Harendra from Delhi; and 65-year-old Chandrabhan, son of the late Hiralal from Agra. All four experienced breathing difficulties and suffocation due to the crowd pressure. After receiving medical attention, they recovered and left for their respective destinations with their families.
Health Scare for Police Officer on Duty at the Temple
Prem Kumar, a sub-inspector stationed at Gate No. 1 of the Banke Bihari temple, also faced a health scare on Saturday night when his blood pressure and sugar levels suddenly dropped, causing him to lose consciousness. Fellow police officers and security guards promptly took him to the on-site doctors, who advised transferring him to a 100-bed hospital. From there, he was referred to S.N. Medical College in Agra but was instead taken to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College in Aligarh. By Sunday afternoon, his condition had stabilized, and he is currently reported to be in good health.
Advisory for Elderly and Sick Devotees During Crowded Periods
In light of such incidents, the management of the Thakur Banke Bihari temple regularly issues advisories during festivals and weekends when large crowds are expected. The advisory urges elderly, disabled, children, and sick individuals to avoid visiting the temple during peak times. Additionally, it advises against bringing valuables such as jewelry, purses, and mobile phones, encourages compliance with public announcements, and reminds visitors to use designated entry routes, avoid unnecessary loitering around the temple, and refrain from taking selfies. The management also suggests placing a slip with a mobile number in the pockets of children and elderly visitors.
