In February 2002, thousands of Karsevaks from across India, including Gujarat, travelled to Ayodhya for a VHP-organized religious event. After the ceremony ended, they boarded the Sabarmati Express to return home, unaware that their journey would become a turning point in Indian history.
On 27 February 2002, the Sabarmati Express stopped near Godhra after its emergency chain was pulled. Coach S-6 caught fire during the incident, killing 59 passengers, including women and children. The tragedy shocked the nation and triggered widespread outrage.
The victims' bodies were brought to Ahmedabad, where emotions ran high. As news spread rapidly, communal tensions escalated. Within hours, violence broke out in Ahmedabad and quickly spread to several parts of Gujarat.
The worst violence occurred on 28 February 2002. Incidents like the Gulberg Society and Naroda Patiya massacres caused heavy loss of life and destruction, becoming the most widely discussed episodes of the riots.
The riots led to years of investigations, court cases, and political debate. Several people were convicted in different cases, while others were acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence.
Official figures recorded 59 deaths in the Godhra train burning and hundreds more during the Gujarat riots. More than two decades later, the events remain one of the most controversial and tragic chapters in modern Indian history.