This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7539509.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Scores killed' in India stampede | 'Scores killed' in India stampede |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| A stampede at a hilltop temple in northern India has killed at least 68 people, police say. | A stampede at a hilltop temple in northern India has killed at least 68 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. | The stampede happened at the Nainadevi temple in the Bilsapur district of Himachal Pradesh state, during a nine-day Hindu religious festival. |
| Reports said the victims were 30 children and 38 women, with more than 40 others also injured. | Reports said the victims were 30 children and 38 women, with more than 40 others also injured. |
| The Nainadevi temple is north of the capital, Delhi, 160km (100 miles) 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. | |
| Sunday crowds | |
| Crowds had gathered at the temple to celebrate the festival of Shravan Navratras, which began on Saturday and runs until 11 August, according to the temple's own website. | Crowds had gathered at the temple to celebrate the festival of Shravan Navratras, which began on Saturday and runs until 11 August, according to the temple's own website. |
| Up to 50,000 people may have been at the temple for the festivities, Indian media said. | |
| One local lawmaker told Indian media that the stampede happened when a system of fences on the outside of the building broke. | |
| Pilgrims heading to make offerings to Hindu gods reportedly rushed in panic after the railings broke, reports said. | |
| The death told is expected to rise as rescue teams gain access to the site and begin relief efforts. | |
| One unconfirmed report by Indian media said the death toll had already reached 100, and put the number of injured at about 300. | |
| 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. |