27 April,2011 06:31 AM IST | | Sheetal Sukhija
Last day for darshan of late Sathya Sai Baba brings over 2 lakh devotees to Puttaparthi, thus putting the 12,000 strong crowd management group to the ultimate test
AS the deadline for darshan of late Sathya Sai Baba at Sai Kulwanth Hall nears an end, the sea of humanity converging at Puttaparthi made crowd management a nightmare for the 6,000 police personnel, 1,000 paramilitary troopers and over 5,000 volunteers at the spot.
As late Sathya Sai Baba's mortal remains will be interred today at 6 pm, over 2 lakh devotees rushed to the town to pay their last respects
An announcement was made informing devotees that yesterday would be the last day to behold Baba, before the casket would be moved in preparation for the final rituals. His mortal remains will be interred today at 6 pm, and devotees are rushing to pay their last respects before time runs out.
The commotion
The announcement resulted in chaotic scenes almost everywhere in and around the ashram with over 2 lakh devotees entering Puttaparthi by rail, road and air early yesterday morning, thereby putting the various groups managing crowds to the ultimate test.
The surging crowds however, were forced to stand in the scorching sun for over 5 hours, in queues that snaked through the by-lanes of the small town.
The volunteers urged them ahead using any means possible and there were many reported cases of manhandling. The ashram's main office continued to receive complaints from several devotees and others who were injured in a minor stampede that took place at a gate dedicated to women devotees.
Stampede outside hall
With several VVIPs making brief visits throughout the day, the common crowd faced difficulties. A group of around 200 women made repeated requests to the volunteers to open a gate leading into the main hall. As volunteers obliged, the group surged forward.
To avoid a mad rush, the volunteers shut the gate abruptly, setting off a stampede resulting in several people being injured.
"This is just not the way you treat people who've come so far to get a last glimpse of their guru. Each year, on Baba's birthday, crowds much larger than what is being seen currently, come to seek his blessings.
There has never been any incident such as what was witnessed this time. It is sad that in our moment of despair, these volunteers have behaved in such an inhuman way," said Meena, a devotee who was injured in the stampede.
The male volunteers, who assisted the cops on duty, pushed the women who had been waiting for over two hours. Some of the aged devotees, who were on wheelchairs, were injured in the bedlam.
Explained Rayaiz, "My mother just arrived from the US and we immediately brought her here. The ashram officials told me that the safest way to get a quick darshan would be through this entrance. When we got here there was a mad rush and people kept pushing each other."
Just for 5 seconds
With thousands of devotees reaching Puttaparthi yesterday, each devotee wasn't allowed to stay in front of the casket for more than five seconds. To counter the chaos, ashram authorities extended the deadline of final darshan till midnight.
Besides, devotees arriving late in the evening will get a chance to enter the hall to pay their last respects to their guru. The ashram office also announced that devotees would be allowed to offer prayers from 12 pm tomorrow, after the last rites are completed.
VVIP galore
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister Deve Gowda, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi, Former Sri Lankan Cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga, Drummer Shivamani and Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, were amongu00a0 thousands of devotees who offered their last respects to the departed soul.
