The Mysuru Dasara Jamboo Savari drew thousands of spectators on Wednesday, but crowd surges at several points along the procession route left more than 50 women and children with breathing difficulties, while police used limited force to prevent people from breaking through barricades, according to a report by Prajavani.
The procession began at the Balarama Gate and travelled towards Bannimantap. Spectators had started reserving places along both sides of the route from Tuesday, with many arriving early on Wednesday to watch the golden howdah carried by the elephant Prashantha and the idol of Chamundeshwari. Devotees raised slogans, offered prayers and threw flowers towards the howdah as it moved through the city.
Crowd pressure was reported near Chamराजa Circle, KR Circle, the city bus stand, Ayurveda Circle and the Small Clock Tower. Although barricades had been installed on both sides of the road, people attempted to push through as tableaux and the howdah elephant approached. Police carried out limited lathi charges at some locations to control the crowd, the report said.
The pressure also affected children near the front rows. Some children became trapped between barricades and cried out, after which several women and children were moved to the roadside. Police personnel were also seen comforting children who had become separated from their mothers. More than 50 women and children experiencing breathing difficulties were taken away in ambulances.
The procession featured the lead elephant Abhimanyu, along with Gopi, Lakshmi, Mahendra, Ekalavya, Srikanta, Sugriva, Srirama and Chaitra. The arrival of Abhimanyu, described in the report as a former lead elephant, prompted loud cheers from the crowd. Film personalities travelled in a bus, while Asian Games winners arrived in another vehicle. Cricketer Shreyanka Patil drew chants of support from spectators.
Emergency and civic arrangements included six district fire officers and 150 fire and emergency personnel. More than 15 water vehicles and 10 quick-response vehicles were among 30 emergency service vehicles deployed for the event. Sixty-seven civic workers were assigned to sanitation, while nine municipal vehicles distributed 2,500 litres of water. The Kannada and Culture Department provided public announcements from three locations, and Scouts, Guides and National Cadet Corps students assisted as volunteers.
Volunteers from the Vasavi Youth Association, Vasavi Seva Dal and Kannada organisations distributed water, buttermilk, chocolates and cucumber to spectators and volunteers. After the procession, devotees also distributed prasad.
The report also noted that spectators climbed trees and old buildings along the route despite police instructions. People were seen sitting dangerously on trees within the KR Hospital compound as the howdah elephant approached. Police had taken stricter measures during the previous edition to prevent spectators from climbing structures and trees. The latest incidents have again highlighted the difficulty of managing dense crowds around a moving procession in a historic city centre.
