Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

Stampede at Nainadevi temple kills 145 pilgrims in Himachal Pradesh

Mon Aug 4, 2008 10:57am IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

By Geetinder Garewal

CHANDIGARH, India (Reuters) - At least 145 people, mostly women and children, were crushed to death under the feet of thousands of pilgrims in a stampede at a temple in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday, police said.

Hindu worshippers were snaking up a 4-km trail leading to the hilltop Nainadevi temple in Bilaspur district, chanting and singing hymns, when the stampede occurred.

Police said the pilgrims might have panicked after heavy rains caused large stones from a retaining wall along the trail to fall.

The pilgrims started fleeing down the slope, breaking an iron railing and trampling falling women and children under their feet, said Daljit Singh Manhas, a senior police officer.

"We have confirmation now that 145 people have been killed," he told Reuters. "We found eight to 10 stones which had fallen off and probably scared the people, causing the stampede."

At least 40 children and 45 women were among the dead, police and health department officials said.

Thousands of worshippers had gathered at the temple, some 150 km north of the town of Chandigarh, to pray to the Hindu goddess Nainadevi during the annual festival.

Authorities said at last 48 other people were seriously injured and they were looking for more injured pilgrims in private clinics.  Continued...

India Investment Summit 2009
India Investment Summit 2009

Top executives and bankers discuss their own plans and the broader opportunities and challenges for India.  Full Coverage 

Reuters correspondent Sourav Mishra recounts the unforgettable night of Nov. 26 at Mumbai's Leopold Cafe
Back from the Dead
REUTERS WITNESS - 26/11

Reuters correspondent Sourav Mishra recounts the night of Nov. 26 at Leopold Cafe.  Full Article | Full Coverage 

Photo
One Year Later

A look back at the events of 26/11 ahead of the first anniversary of the militant attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people.  Slideshow | Full Coverage 

Cops on trail of "gingerbread town" vandals 12:30am IST 

OSLO (Reuters) - The people of Bergen rolled out the cookie dough Monday as local police tried to sniff out vandals who destroyed the Norwegian city's traditional Christmas decoration -- a town of gingerbread houses.  Full Article