Stampede at Shivneri Fort in Pune? Police Dismiss Reports After Devotees Sustained Injuries During Shiv Jayanti Celebrations (Watch Videos)
During the 2026 Shiv Jayanti celebrations at Shivneri Fort in Pune, several people including women and children were reportedly injured due to overcrowding. While initial reports cited a "stampede-like" situation and a broken railing, Pune Rural SP Sandeep Singh Gill clarified that no stampede occurred. He stated the injuries resulted from a devotee slipping on narrow stairs, causing others to fall.
Pune, February 19: It is reported that as many as six people were injured after a "stampede-like" situation was witnessed as a large crowd gathered at Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in Junnar taluka of Maharashtra's Pune district on the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti 2026. However, the stampede claim was dismissed by officials. Sandeep Singh Gill, SP of Pune Rural, said that there was no stampede and confirmed injuries to three people during Shiv Jayanti celebrations at the fort in Pune.
"If you look at the Shiv Janmasthan here, on top of the Shivneri Fort in Junnar, a large number of people have been coming here for darshan since yesterday morning and darshan continued throughout the night...One of the devotees slipped, and due to this, more people fell on the stairs and three of them got injured," he added. Shiv Jayanti 2026 Wishes, Happy Shivaji Jayanti Messages and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj HD Photos.
Railing Broke at Shivneri Fort in Pune During Shiv Jayanti Celebrations
Viral Video Shows Massive Crowd at Shivneri Fort in Pune
According to a report in the news agency IANS, several women and children were injured after a railing broke amid heavy crowding during celebrations of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birth anniversary at Shivneri Fort in Junnar. After the incident, the injured were admitted to Junnar Government Hospital and are reported to be stable. Dry Day Today on February 19 for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti 2026: Sale of Alcohol Prohibited in Liquor Shops, Restaurants and Bars in Maharashtra.
Police Dismiss Reports of Stampede at Shivneri Fort in Pune
Multiple videos showing a massive crowd at the Shivneri Fort for Shiv Jayanti celebrations have also gone viral on social media. According to PTI, three people were injured after they were pushed at Shivneri Fort in Pune amid overcrowding early on Thursday, February 19. The incident occurred as thousands gathered at the Shivneri Fort to celebrate the birth anniversary of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 19, 2026 09:38 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).