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Scores die in India temple crush | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least 80 worshippers are feared dead after a stampede at a Hindu temple in the northern India state of Rajasthan. | |
Local officials said at least 100 more were thought to be injured after the incident at the Chamunda Devi temple in the historic city of Jodhpur. | |
It is thought that a wall near the temple collapsed, causing panic among thousands of gathered devotees. | It is thought that a wall near the temple collapsed, causing panic among thousands of gathered devotees. |
India's temples have suffered several deadly stampedes recently - including one last month where 140 were killed. | India's temples have suffered several deadly stampedes recently - including one last month where 140 were killed. |
That crush, in Himachal Pradesh state, was caused when a rain shelter on the mountain path to the temple collapsed, triggering rumours of a landslide. | That crush, in Himachal Pradesh state, was caused when a rain shelter on the mountain path to the temple collapsed, triggering rumours of a landslide. |
An official in Jodhpur said the latest tragedy was sparked when a wall leading up to the temple collapsed, killing several people and causing crowds to scatter. | An official in Jodhpur said the latest tragedy was sparked when a wall leading up to the temple collapsed, killing several people and causing crowds to scatter. |
"People are still buried under the wall. We are pulling them out," government official Kiran Soni Gupta told AFP news agency. | "People are still buried under the wall. We are pulling them out," government official Kiran Soni Gupta told AFP news agency. |
Jodhpur police chief Malini Agarwal said overcrowding appeared to have led to the stampede as more than 12,000 people had gathered at the temple to celebrate a festival. | |
Some 10,000 people had gathered at the temple to celebrate the start of a nine-day Hindu festival known as Navaratra. | Some 10,000 people had gathered at the temple to celebrate the start of a nine-day Hindu festival known as Navaratra. |
TV news channels showed pictures of devotees lying on the streets, and relatives trying to revive unconscious pilgrims. | |
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 four fatal stampedes in the country so far during 2008. | There have been at least four fatal stampedes in the country so far during 2008. |