Temple stampede toll likely to reach 200

Jodhpur, Oct 1 (UNI) The toll in the Chamunda Mata temple stampede yesterday, would reach 200 with the lodging of 50 to 60 FIRs at various police stations here regarding deaths of victims who were not enlisted in the official toll list of 147 persons.

Divisional Commissioner Kiran Soni Gupta said the FIRs had been lodged by the kins of those who reportedly went missing at the Chamunda Mata temple yesterday.

''This happened because relatives of deceased had taken the victims directly to their home and their name probably could not be included in the official toll lists'', Ms Gupta said.

However, the official toll remained unchanged untill the final verifictions in the new cases were carried out, she said.

It was yet to be ascertained whether these deaths were natural or due to the temple stampede, the Divisional Commissioner said.

Besides this, names of some of these persons might have already been included in the official lists.

The confusion over the death toll loomed yesterday too. While the official recorded the toll at 147, unofficial reports had put the figure at 196-197.

However, officials and Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje had categorically stated yesterday that the toll was 147 and higher figures might be due to doubling of entries in the hospitals' records.

UNI SS RSA KN2014