Overcrowding at sacred tooth relic display in Sri Lanka leads to health crisis
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What began as a deeply spiritual pilgrimage turned into a public health emergency in Sri Lanka.
Hundreds of thousands of Buddhist devotees crowded into the city of Kandy to witness a rare public display of the Sacred Tooth Relic, believed to be a tooth of the Buddha.
Authorities, overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the turnout, have now urged devotees to stay away amid mounting casualties and health concerns.
On Thursday morning alone, officials estimated over 450,000 people had gathered — more than double the anticipated daily turnout of 200,000. The queue of pilgrims stretched a staggering 10 kilometers (over six miles), and the situation quickly deteriorated.
Regional police chief Lalith Pathinayake warned that even those who had lined up early Thursday might not reach the temple before the exhibition ends on Sunday. “We appeal to the public not to come to Kandy,” he said, citing severe overcrowding and a dangerously slow-moving queue.
The city's main government hospital reported treating over 300 people for exhaustion, dehydration, and related conditions. Tragically, four people — including an elderly woman — were declared dead upon arrival. Mobile medical units treated more than 2,000 individuals who had fainted while waiting in the sweltering, cramped lines.
Authorities, alarmed by the possibility of a stampede and deteriorating sanitary conditions, took urgent steps to manage the crowd. “Health officials have raised red flags about the lack of proper sanitation,” said provincial governor Sarath Abeykoon. “We’re doing everything we can to prevent a disaster.”
In response to the escalating situation, the railway department suspended all extra trains to Kandy, while police turned away 32 buses due to a complete lack of parking space in the city. Police commandos were also deployed to redirect pilgrims off an old bridge at risk of collapse under the weight of the crowd.
The sacred relic, held at the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, is rarely displayed. The last public viewing occurred in March 2009 and drew around one million visitors. This year’s 10-day exhibition was expected to attract roughly two million pilgrims — a number already exceeded in just five days.
