Death toll still rising after India temple stampede

30/09/2008

Over 100 people are reported to have died after a stampede at a Hindu temple in India.

The incident, which occurred in the historic town of Jodhpur in India's western state of Rajasthan, saw panic break out after the collapse of a wall.

Police officers at the scene blamed severe overcrowding for the deaths which followed. Over 50 others were injured as a result of the panic.

Worshippers had been gathering at the Chamunda temple in the hill-top Mehrangarh Fort to mark the start of the major Hindu festival Navaratri.

One witness told the Reuters news agency: "The stampede started after a barricade near the temple broke and there was huge confusion and people started running down a steep slope and fell on each other."

It comes just weeks after a similar incident saw 145 die. August 3rd saw Hindu pilgrims die when rumours of a landslide sparked panic in the remote Naina Devi Temple.