Scores killed in Indian temple stampede

New Delhi: The death toll in a stampede at the Chamunda Hindu temple in Jodhpur rose to 168 on Tuesday, with at least 150 others injured, police said.

Police earlier reported 125 killed. Thousands of pilgrims had gathered outside the temple at dawn on Tuesday to mark the start of a Hindu festival.

The stampede apparently began as false rumors of a bomb spread among the crowd, said Ramesh Vyas, a pilgrim.

However, Rajiv Dasoth, a police inspector general, said that the stampede started after a barricade near the temple broke. "There was huge confusion and people started running down a steep slope and fell on each other."

A police officer in the main control room said, "The toll will rise, we are receiving news of more serious injuries."