A stampede-like scene was witnessed during a public event presided over by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Puttur on Monday, when ten women were hospitalised with suspected hypoglycaemia and dehydration. The situation was witnessed amidst the slow pace of food and gift distribution that resulted in panic and turnstile anxiety at the venue.
The function, named Ashoka Jana Mana, was conducted by Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai at the Puttur Taluk Stadium to hand over clothes, utensils, and Diwali gifts to citizens. Authorities stated that almost one lakh people gathered there, much more than the stadium capacity of about 20,000, causing extreme overpopulation, choking, and chaos.
Hospitalised victims
Health officials confirmed that three women needed IV fluids while seven others were given treatment as outpatients and subsequently discharged. They have hospitalised Yogita (20), Sabha Madavu (20), Amina Patrakodi (56), Netravati Irde (37), Lilavati Kadaba (50), Vasanti Balnad (53), Kusuma (62), Ratnavati Perigeri (67), Afila Patrakodi (20), and Snehaprabha (41). All are currently stable.
ರೈ ಎಸ್ಟೇಟ್ ಎಜುಕೇಷನಲ್ ಮತ್ತು ಚಾರಿಟೇಬಲ್ ಟ್ರಸ್ಟ್ನವರು ಪುತ್ತೂರಿನ ತಾಲೂಕು ಕ್ರೀಡಾಂಗಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಯೋಜಿಸಿದ್ದ “ಅಶೋಕ ಜನ – ಮನ 2025” ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವನ್ನು ಉದ್ಘಾಟಿಸಿ, ಶುಭ ಹಾರೈಸಿದೆ. pic.twitter.com/MvgR5JWcSD
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) October 20, 2025
Police and physicians attributed the causes of the fainting episodes and dehydration among spectators as a mixture of crowd surges, excessive humidity, poor ventilation, and slow food delivery. Citizens reported scenes of chaos as individuals fought to reach drinking water while waiting in long lines for gifts.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had left the venue when the incident happened. Organisers of the event later regretted the situation and promised measures would be put in place to prevent such accidents in future events.
Wounds of Karur stampede
This is just a month after the Karur stampede at an actor-turned-politician Vijay-led political rally, which resulted in 41 fatalities, and raised concerns once again about crowd control in India during mass events.
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Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
