115 killed, over 100 injured in Madhya Pradesh temple stampede

[FarCenter]

BHOPAL: At least 115 pilgrims, including 30 children were killed and more than 100 injured in a stampede on narrow bridge to the historic Ratangarh temple in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. This is shocking re-run of the 2006 tragedy at the same site when 50 pilgrims were washed away.

The bridge over the swollen Sindh river, which leads to the temple was chock-a-block with over one lakh devotees from Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring UP on auspicious Navami day.

Swirling rumours about an imminent collapse of the bridge after a police lathicharge on devotees triggered panic. While scores of pilgrims were trampled, others were drowned after jumping into the swollen river. Bodies lay sprawled on the bridge even as rescue teams from Gwalior were delayed due to battered roads and a 10-km traffic jam.There were only nine constables and a sub-inspector manning the over-lakh crowd on the 500-metre long bridge when the tragedy took place.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/115-killed-over-100-injured-in-Madhya-Pradesh-temple-stampede/articleshow/24101603.cms

[dipsydoodle]

1. There were 25000 people on a bridge 23 foot wide and 500 yards long.

The outcome is sad but hardly surpising.

[FarCenter]

2. The story says "over one lakh", which would be over 100,000.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Well our tv news actually said 50000 this afternoon here on the UK

but I searched before I wrote and the NYT said 25,000.