Gujarat temple stampede leaves at least 20 dead

Ahmedabad: At least 20 people were killed and over 20 injured yesterday in a stampede at the famous Durga temple in Gujarat's Panchmahal district during the heavy rush of pilgrims for the Navaratri festival.

The state government has ordered a magisterial probe into the accident.

The stampede occurred early in the morning at the hill-top Mahakali temple in Pavagadh, about 150 kilometres from Ahmedabad, when a large number of devotees gathered to offer prayers on the third day of the Hindu festival of Navaratri.

Over 100,000 devotees were present in the temple complex at the time of the stampede, which took place on the Patia Pul, a narrow path that leads to the shrine.

As people climbed up the path to get into the temple, they jostled with those who were climbing down. This created a melee and led to the stampede.

The Mahakali temple, which draws thousands of pilgrims during the Navratri every year, was temporarily closed.

Some of the injured were treated at the Halol referral hospital and others in Vadodara, about 50 kilometres from Pavagarh.

Many pilgrims and local residents joined hands with the district administration in rescuing those trapped.

The exact cause of the incident was yet to be ascertained, according to Panchmahal Superintendent of Police Dipankar Trivedi.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and announced Rs100,000 (Dh9,326) as compensation to the families of those killed. State Health Minister Ashok Bhatt and Minister of State for Home Amit Shah rushed to the accident site. Congress president Sonia Gandhi condoled those killed in the stampede.

This is the second major accident at the temple in four years. In 2003, seven people died and 45 injured as the ropeway leading to the hilltop shrine broke.