45,000 visitors throng Sitabuldi Fort on Independence Day

Staff Reporter :

Around 45,000 people from Nagpur and surrounding areas visited Sitabuldi Fort on August 15 as the historic military heritage site was opened exclusively to Indian nationals on the occasion of the 80th Independence Day. The turnout was significantly higher than on Republic Day this year, when around 27,256 visitors had visited the fort. The increased footfall reflected growing public interest in the city’s military and historical heritage. Located in the heart of Nagpur within the Uttar Maharashtra and Gujarat Sub-Area Complex, Sitabuldi Fort is associated with the Maratha legacy and the British period.

Visitors appreciated the arrangements made by the Army personnel, who managed the event alongside their regular operational responsibilities.
National Cadet Corps cadets conducted guided tours along the designated heritage route, while patriotic songs were played during the visit. The music drew large crowds, with visitors joining in spontaneous dancing and adding to the patriotic atmosphere.
Crowd movement from the Railway Gate towards the fort and inside the complex was managed by Nagpur Police in
coordination with the Military Police.

Crowd surge made situation difficult

A stampede like situation prevailed at the Sitabuldi Fort that was opened for citizens on Independence Day. Over excited to visit the fort ramparts, hundreds gathered at the gate facing Kasturchand Park even before its scheduled opening. The moment army personnel opened the gates, the crowd surged forward and in that process some of the citizens fell down and could have got trampled upon as no one was ready to stop. Since the fort is normally not open for citizens, the symbolic visits on Republic Day and Independence Day is widely awaited. And this the blow up on social media saw huge turnout. With no discipline and little room for authorities to step-in, the situation was almost like free fall as everyone was just keen to get inside the fort, worried that armymen might close the gate in view of crowding. The spectacle at Sitabuldi Fort speaks about the lack of discipline in public places amongst citizens.