Overcrowding triggered a stampede during the annual Urs celebrations of Baba Farid in Pakpattan on Monday and left 89 devotees injured. Officials said that 25 seriously injured pilgrims were transferred to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital for further medical treatment. Meanwhile, 64 people who sustained minor injuries received first aid and medical assistance at the scene. 

The incident occurred amid large crowds gathered for the religious festival, which attracts thousands of devotees each year.  Emergency responders and medical teams were deployed promptly to assist the injured and manage the situation. Authorities were investigating the circumstances that led to the stampede and have urged visitors to follow safety guidelines during the ongoing celebrations.

No fatalities have been reported so far. Baba Farid Urs, held at the shrine of the revered Sufi saint Baba Farid in Pakpattan, remains one of the largest religious gatherings, attracting hundreds of thousands of devotees from across Pakistan.  Devotees groups flock to Pakpattan for special prayers, spiritual ceremonies, qawwali performances, and the opening of the historic Bahishti Darwaza, which often draws massive crowds.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)