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Stampede in UP kills 65 people

By Santosh | 08 March 2010

At least 65 people - nearly all of them women and children - have been killed in a stampede at an ashram in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Twenty-eight more were injured.

The stampede started when the ashram's gates collapsed and set off panic. About 15,000 people were at the ashram at the time to attend a ritual.

Thirty-seven women and 26 children were among those killed after they were trampled over by the crowd that had gathered at Kripalu Maharaj's ashram, 60 kms from Allahabad, during distribution of food and utensils for the "Shradh" (post-death rites) of his wife, Sub-divisional Magistrate Kunda Shyama Charan said.

Inspector General of Police (Allahabad Range) Chandra Prakash said at least 28 people have been injured in the stampede at the ashram in Mangarh area of the district.

The injured have been rushed to hospitals in Pratapgarh and Allahabad, officials said.

Eyewitnesses said that many of those killed had fallen into a borewell near the gate. Officials said the district authorities were not given prior intimation about the function.

Angry relatives of victims alleged they were not being allowed by the police to look for the bodies of their loved ones.

The ashram is spread over nearly six hectares of land in a remote area. Police contingents from several adjoining areas have reached there for relief operations.