Shivneri Fort decorated for Shivaji Jayanti celebrations in Pune on February 19, 2026. Photo: X/@Dev_Fadnavis
Three people were injured after they were pushed into Pune’s Shivneri Fort amid overcrowding early Thursday (February 19, 2026) as thousands gathered to celebrate the birth anniversary of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, police said.
The incident took place around 3.30 am when a torch-carrying party was descending from the fort near Meena Darwaja in Junnar tehsil, they said.
“The group was coming down from the fort at a fast pace amidst a thick crowd of people. Our police team who was there advised them to slow down,” Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandip Singh Gill said.
“Meanwhile, someone from the upper side pushed a person, causing four to five people from the group to fall down. Three people sustained leg injuries,” he said.
The police officers present at the spot immediately helped the injured and ensured that the movement of people continued smoothly, the official said.
“We have deployed additional police force and movement of persons is now going on smoothly,” he said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar attended the celebrations at Pune Fort on Thursday (February 19, 2026).
Mr Fadnavis and his representatives attended various programmes, including the ‘Cradle Ceremony’, which symbolized the legendary king’s birth and naming rituals, at Shivneri.
The legendary warrior king was born on February 19, 1630 in Shivneri fort in Pune district.
Published – 19 Feb 2026 11:32 IST