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3 Devotees Die at Sitakunda’s Chandranath Dham
Three devotees, including a woman, tragically lost their lives on Wednesday due to overcrowding while ascending the hill at Chandranath Dham in Sitakunda during the Shib Chaturdashi fair.
The victims have been identified as Bantu Das, 50, and Mantu Das, 43. The woman, believed to be around 55 years old, remains unidentified.
Sitakunda Police Station Officer-in-Charge, Mujibur Rahman, confirmed the deaths, suggesting that the intense crowding, combined with the scorching heat, might have contributed to the fatal incident.
Md. Saidul Islam, Station Officer at the Sitakunda Fire Service, reported that the bodies were recovered after the authorities were notified of the incident.
The Shib Chaturdashi Fair, a three-day annual event, began on Tuesday and is scheduled to conclude on Thursday morning.
During this time, approximately 10 to 12 lakh pilgrims gather at the site. The crowd steadily grew larger starting Tuesday evening, and by Wednesday morning, the entire area of Chandranath Dham was overcrowded.
In response to the crisis, extensive security arrangements have been put in place, involving the army, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police, fire services, and various intelligence agencies, to ensure the safety and smooth flow of pilgrims visiting the shrine and performing rituals. Despite these measures, the overwhelming number of attendees has made it difficult to manage the situation.