HP temple stampede kills 80 pilgrims

Bilaspur, Aug 3: At least 80 pilgrims are feared killed and over 200 injured in a stampede in Nainadevi temple in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district on Sunday, August 3.

The police, however, confirms the death of only seven people. The stampede took place after a railing on the way to the temple collapsed," Inspector General of Police, Law and Order, S R Mardi said. The large number of pilgrims had gathered at the temple to offer prayers on the occasion of Navratra and the railing on way to the temple collapsed due to heavy rush resulting in stampede, official sources said. Superintendent of Police K K Indoria and other senior district officers have rushed to the temple about 60 km from the Bilaspur district headquarters.

Sources said that at the time of the incident only about 100 police personnel were on duty at the shrine. are deputed on the spot.

Medical teams have also reached on the spot, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kapoor said when contacted. Feeble mobile phone connectivity has hampered rescue operations.

OneIndia News