Date:04/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/04/stories/2008080454320100.htm

Front Page

Stampede near Himachal temple claims 125 lives

Kanwar Yogendra

SHIMLA: More than 125 people, mainly women and children, are feared killed and about 250 injured in a stampede on a slender trail leading to the famous hilltop Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh on Sunday.

Naina Devi, a key shrine of the temple tourist circuit of the hill State, is about 165 km from the State capital and is very popular amongst the people from neighbouring Punjab and the lower plains of Himachal. The police have confirmed 90 deaths so far.

According to officials, rumours of a landslip uphill triggered the stampede as terrified people started running down. An iron railing collapsed and some people rolled down the hill while others died of suffocation.

Television footage showed slippers, torn clothes and bags with flowers and offerings lying along the narrow path winding up the hill.

People thronged hospitals looking for relatives.

A television channel showed a young women pilgrim pleading for water in a corner as rescuers brought in more injured people on stretchers.

More than 5000 devotees were approaching the temple, situated at a height of about 4000 metres, at the time of incident. Since this was an auspicious time of the year, the rush was more, said a temple official.

Chief Minister rushed to the spot and supervised rescue operations. He announced an immediate relief of Rs. 1 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to the seriously injured.

Most of those injured have been referred to the Ropar hospital in Punjab and PGI Chandigarh.

A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident. The communication network in the area was affected due to bad weather and rescue operations were hampered due to fog around the site.

A similar stampede occurred here in 1983, claiming 36 lives.