India orders investigation into stampede

Authorities order a probe into possible organisational lapses leading to a stampede that killed at least 145 pilgrims.

Relatives react outside Anandpur Sahib Civil hospital in the northern state of Punjab, India, where those killed and injured in the stampede were taken.

CHANDIGARH, INDIA // Indian authorities today ordered a probe into possible organisational lapses that led to a stampede outside a mountaintop Hindu temple in northern India, killing at least 145 pilgrims. Rumours of a landslide triggered a stampede yesterday by pilgrims who ran down a narrow mountain trail from the temple in Himachal Pradesh state, only to meet thousands of people walking up in the opposite direction.

Most were trampled while dozens fell to their death after railings broke on the steep mountainside. More than 100 people were injured. Officials said the number of pilgrims had risen sharply on the weekend at the Naina Devi temple, overwhelming security personnel. "There are two routes leading to the temple and the barricades put up to streamline human traffic broke down and in the mêlée everything went haywire," Rakesh Kapoor, a senior government official, said.

"It was raining very heavily and the crowds had swelled immensely and as soon as the rain stopped people tried to rush ahead," Mr Kapoor added. "Then rumours of a landslide started the stampede." Thousands of worshippers had gathered at the temple in Bilaspur district, some 150km north of the city of Chandigarh, during an annual festival. At least 40 children and 45 women died in the stampede, police officers said.

Those who survived saw people jumping to their death from the hill, in a desperate attempt to save themselves from the stampede. Vindo Bala, 52, survived the crush. She said: "There was a man with his child and he was shaking the child to see if he was alive, and all the time tears were flowing down his cheeks." In India, stampedes are not uncommon at temples, where thousands of people often gather to pray during festivals.

Witnesses told police how security officials stood helplessly as thousands ran down the slope, breaking barricades and railings. "No one from the police or administration was helping and it was just people helping each other in the pouring rain," Ms Bala added. "There was total chaos everywhere and I saw dead bodies everywhere and blood-soaked survivors crying for help," said Birbal Wadhera, 30, another pilgrim who survived.

"I am so shocked that I am trembling in my house and terrified to step out and go to work." Witnesses said people were carrying their dead or seriously injured relatives on makeshift slings made from torn clothes. Victims and their relatives said clinics were short-staffed and did not have enough medicines to treat the injured. Temple officials said the festival will continue. It is due to end on Aug 11.

*Reuters