Stampede kills 123 Hindu worshippers in India
Monday, 4 August 2008
CHANDIGARH, India, Aug 3 (Agencies): At least 123 people, mostly women and children, were crushed to death in a stampede at a temple in northern India Sunday, police said.
The devotees were attending a nine-day religious festival in the foothills of the Himalayas at the Naina Devi Temple, said district deputy police chief C.P. Verma.
A railing on the mountain path collapsed during the crush, sending dozens of people over the edge, police said. Television channels showed blurred pictures of the lifeless bodies of several small children, apparently lying at the bottom of the path.
"As of now we have 123 people dead, including more than 40 children," Daljit Singh Manhas, a senior police officer said.
"The injured have been taken to two places and the toll could be more as we are awaiting news from other hospitals," Manhas added. He said at least 45 women were among the dead.
The devotees were attending a nine-day religious festival in the foothills of the Himalayas at the Naina Devi Temple, said district deputy police chief C.P. Verma.
A railing on the mountain path collapsed during the crush, sending dozens of people over the edge, police said. Television channels showed blurred pictures of the lifeless bodies of several small children, apparently lying at the bottom of the path.
"As of now we have 123 people dead, including more than 40 children," Daljit Singh Manhas, a senior police officer said.
"The injured have been taken to two places and the toll could be more as we are awaiting news from other hospitals," Manhas added. He said at least 45 women were among the dead.