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| India temple stampede 'kills 140' | India temple stampede 'kills 140' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A stampede at a hilltop temple in northern India has killed at least 140 people, police say. | A stampede at a hilltop temple in northern India has killed at least 140 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. |
| Police said the victims included 40 children. Fifty more people were hurt and have been taken to hospital. | Police said the victims included 40 children. Fifty more people were hurt and have been taken to hospital. |
| The Nainadevi temple is about 160km (100 miles) from the Himalayan hill town of Shimla. | The Nainadevi temple is about 160km (100 miles) from the Himalayan hill town of Shimla. |
| Most of the worshippers are believed to be from the neighbouring state of Punjab. | Most of the worshippers are believed to be from the neighbouring state of Punjab. |
| Sunday crowds | Sunday crowds |
| Crowds had gathered at the temple to celebrate the festival of Shravan Navratras, which began on Saturday and runs until 11 August. | Crowds had gathered at the temple to celebrate the festival of Shravan Navratras, which began on Saturday and runs until 11 August. |
| At least 50,000 people were expected to attend the festivities, says the BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Delhi. | At least 50,000 people were expected to attend the festivities, says the BBC's Damian Grammaticas in Delhi. |
| Up to 50,000 people may have been at the temple for the festivities | Up to 50,000 people may have been at the temple for the festivities |
| Hindu worshippers were climbing up a 4-km (2.5-mile) trail leading to a hill-top temple, chanting and singing hymns, when the stampede happened. | Hindu worshippers were climbing up a 4-km (2.5-mile) trail leading to a hill-top temple, chanting and singing hymns, when the stampede happened. |
| Our correspondent says a rain shelter beside the narrow mountain collapsed during poor weather conditions, causing widespread panic amid fears of a landslide. | Our correspondent says a rain shelter beside the narrow mountain collapsed during poor weather conditions, causing widespread panic amid fears of a landslide. |
| Hundreds were then crushed together in a tiny space where they were unable to breathe. | Hundreds were then crushed together in a tiny space where they were unable to breathe. |
| Children lost their grip on their mothers' hands and were crushed under the feet of scared pilgrims attempting to leap over broken railings to save themselves, witnesses said. | Children lost their grip on their mothers' hands and were crushed under the feet of scared pilgrims attempting to leap over broken railings to save themselves, witnesses said. |
| Television footage showed the narrow path strewn with torn clothes and bags with flowers and offerings. | Television footage showed the narrow path strewn with torn clothes and bags with flowers and offerings. |
| Timeline: Deadly stampedes | |
| Survivors gathered at nearby hospitals looking for injured relatives. | Survivors gathered at nearby hospitals looking for injured relatives. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Indian temples are regularly hit by stampedes, as huge crowds of Hindu devotees flock to make offerings at festival times. | 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. | 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. |
| Were you at the temple when the stampede happened? Have you been affected by this event? Tell us about what you have seen by filling in the form below. | Were you at the temple when the stampede happened? Have you been affected by this event? Tell us about what you have seen by filling in the form below. |