Some 91 pilgrims, mostly women and children, have been killed in a stampede on narrow bridge to the historic Ratangarh temple in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. This is shocking re-run of the 2006 tragedy at the same site when 50 pilgrims were washed away.
Sources said about five lakh devotees had gathered at the temple, located around 80 km from Datia, for the Durga Puja festivities today. Datia is about 400 km away from state capital Bhopal.The Ratangarh temple is located in the dense forest on the banks of Sindh river in Datia district. The narrow bridge is about 500m long and had only recently been rebuilt following another stampede in 2007.
Officials said the stampede may have been sparked by a rumour that the bridge was about to collapse.
Reports said at least 2000 people were on the bridge when the stampede happened. Some devotees are also feared to have fallen into the river and are untraceable so far, police said.
Alleging that the police did not act on time to prevent the stampede, angry devotees pelted stones on them in which at least six cops were also injured.
A team of more than 20 doctors have been dispatched to the spot, and a high alert has been sounded in surrounding Shivpuri district. The casualty wards of district hospitals have been vacated.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced a compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh each to the kin of the victims.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his condolences, saying: "On this day of festivities, our hearts and prayers are with the victims and their families."
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