A stampede-like chaos occurred at Pune's Shivneri Fort during Shivaji Jayanti, injuring several women and children due to overcrowding. Inadequate police deployment left the situation tense for some time. The incident was triggered by people moving forward simultaneously at narrow entry and exit points.
During Shivaji Jayanti celebrations, a large crowd gathered at Pune's Shivneri Fort, leading to uncontrolled overcrowding due to inadequate police deployment. According to India Today, the stampede was triggered when several people moved forward simultaneously at narrow entry and exit points, such as Hathi Darwaza and Ganesh Darwaza below the Amberkhana.
Several women and children were injured in the chaos. The situation remained tense for some time as the lack of sufficient police presence made crowd management difficult. The sudden influx of devotees increased pressure on the gateways.
The incident occurred on February 19, 2026, amid the fervor of Shivaji Jayanti festivities at the fort. Sources report that the stampede-like situation affected multiple people, though the exact number of injuries was not specified. Local authorities later worked to bring the situation under control.