14 DAY TRIAL // The death toll in the horrific stampede in India has risen to 109 from a reported 91, reports say.
The incident took place at the Ratangarh temple during the Durga festival, in the Datia district, Madhya Pradesh state.
Tens of thousands of people were there for the festival, Mirror reports. An official stated that the victims were killed while heading for the Ratangarh temple, on the bridge in front of the temple.
“We estimate the crowd during the incident at 50 to 60 thousand. In the course of the day, one lakh people visited the temple,” Chief Secretary Anthony J.C. De Sa says.
The stampede was allegedly caused by rumors about the bridge collapsing over the Sindh River.
“89 people were killed in the stampede on the bridge over Sindh river leading to the temple at Ratangarh, where lakhs of devotees had congregated, following rumours by some unidentified persons that it was collapsing,” Deputy Inspector General D.K. Arya tells The Hindu.
“There is a bridge 1.5 kilometres from the temple. [...] A section of the railing broke, setting off a rumour that the bridge was collapsing. Around 25,000 people were on it at the time,” De Sa explains.
Many others have succumbed to their injuries since then. At least 17 children and 31 women are among the fatalities of the incident.
“Several people could be seen flattened to the ground in the midst of the melee,” resident Atul Chaudhary describes.
Some of the victims jumped into the river out of fear of being trampled. Many ended up drowning in the river. Most of them were very young, witnesses recall.
“Some of the youngsters panicked and jumped into the swollen river.
“I and my friends were close to the exit point and along with several others ran for safety. Scores of others were not so lucky,” Chaudhary adds.