The Monkey-man of Delhi

When

May 2001 date from records made at the time

Where

East Delhi (Laxmi Nagar and surrounding areas), India

Verdict

Explained

In spring 2001 Delhi residents sleeping on rooftops in the heat reported over 350 attacks by a “monkey-man” – at least two people died in the panic.

What happened

In April and May 2001, during a heatwave and frequent power cuts, when many families slept on their rooftops, night-time “attacks” began in Ghaziabad and then in East Delhi. Witnesses described an ape-like creature about four feet tall, covered in black fur, with a metal helmet, metal claws and red eyes; others spoke of a creature twice as tall that leapt from roof to roof. More than 350 sightings and around 60 cases of scratches and wounds were reported. At least two people died after falling from rooftops or down stairs in panic. Residents organised night watches, and the police put thousands of officers on patrol, offered a reward and released sketches based on witness descriptions.

Witnesses

Residents of the poorest neighbourhoods of East Delhi and Ghaziabad; the case was covered by Indian and international media, and the Delhi police produced a final report.

Explanations and hypotheses

In its final report the Delhi police concluded that fear and panic lay behind all the sightings. The scratches and wounds were put down mainly to falls and scuffles in the panic. Sociologists describe the case as a textbook example of mass hysteria, amplified by the media, the heat, darkness during power cuts and life in crowded housing.

Explained The phenomenon has a widely accepted, down-to-earth explanation.

Sources

More: Wikipedia (en)