A stampede-like situation erupted during a religious event held by self-styled godman Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, also known as Bageshwar Dham Sarkar, in the Mankoli Naka area of Thane, Maharashtra, on Saturday. The scene turned chaotic as thousands of people gathered for the event, with security personnel struggling to control the surging crowd. In an attempt to manage the situation, security staff were seen using sticks to disperse the crowd, though the visuals showed an overwhelming and disorderly gathering.
Dhirendra Shastri, the head of the Bageshwar Dham in Madhya Pradesh, has gained significant fame in recent years for his controversial practice of providing personal insights to his followers, which critics argue is a form of mentalism and deception.
The Thane incident is reminiscent of similar incidents at other events involving self-styled godmen. Just last month, another stampede-like situation occurred at an event led by Pandit Pradeep Mishra in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut. Although there were no reports of injuries or deaths from the Thane incident, it highlights the risks associated with large gatherings at such religious events.
This event follows a more tragic incident that occurred in July 2022 in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, where a stampede during a satsang led by another self-proclaimed godman, Surajpal (Bhole Baba), resulted in the deaths of 121 people. In that case, the crowd had swelled far beyond the permitted limit, leading to a deadly rush as people attempted to touch the godman’s feet.
The Thane episode further raises concerns about crowd management and safety protocols at mass religious gatherings, especially those involving high-profile figures with large followings.
