Scores feared dead in India stampede
A stampede at a hilltop temple in northern India has killed at least 120 people, police say.
Sunday, 03.08.2008.
16:27
A stampede at a hilltop temple in northern India has killed at least 120 people, police say. The stampede happened at the Nainadevi temple in the Bilsapur district of Himachal Pradesh state, during a nine-day Hindu religious festival. Scores feared dead in India stampede Police said the victims included 30 children. Dozens more people were hurt and have been taken to hospital. The Nainadevi temple is about 160 km from the Himalayan hill town of Shimla. Indian temples are regularly hit by stampedes, as huge crowds of Hindu devotees flock to make offerings at festival times. There have been at least three fatal stampedes in the country so far during 2008, although the numbers killed were far smaller than in the latest incident. Crowds had gathered at the temple to celebrate the festival of Shravan Navratras, which began on Saturday and runs until August 11. At least 50,000 people were expected to attend the festivities, says the BBC. A local police official told the BBC Hindi service that the stampede happened when metal railings on the narrow mountain path to the temple broke, causing widespread panic. Hundreds were then crushed together in a tiny space where they were unable to breathe. He said rescue teams had taken the injured to hospital and that the number of dead could be as high as 100. There are unconfirmed reports of 123 victims. The chief minister of Himachal Pradesh is said to have offered compensation to those injured in the stampede, and to the families of those killed.
Scores feared dead in India stampede
Police said the victims included 30 children. Dozens more people were hurt and have been taken to hospital.The Nainadevi temple is about 160 km from the Himalayan hill town of Shimla.
Indian temples are regularly hit by stampedes, as huge crowds of Hindu devotees flock to make offerings at festival times.
There have been at least three fatal stampedes in the country so far during 2008, although the numbers killed were far smaller than in the latest incident.
Crowds had gathered at the temple to celebrate the festival of Shravan Navratras, which began on Saturday and runs until August 11.
At least 50,000 people were expected to attend the festivities, says the BBC.
A local police official told the BBC Hindi service that the stampede happened when metal railings on the narrow mountain path to the temple broke, causing widespread panic.
Hundreds were then crushed together in a tiny space where they were unable to breathe.
He said rescue teams had taken the injured to hospital and that the number of dead could be as high as 100. There are unconfirmed reports of 123 victims.
The chief minister of Himachal Pradesh is said to have offered compensation to those injured in the stampede, and to the families of those killed.
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