- The stampede takes place in a village near New Delhi.
- Dozens more injured and the death toll rising.
- Unverified videos show bodies piled up outside the hospital.
LUCKNOW: The death toll from the stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh continues to rise with at least 116 people killed and dozens more injured, a local official said on Tuesday.
The situation is becoming alarming as the casualties have risen sharply from 27, the death toll initially reported from the deadly avalanche in a village in Hathras district, located about 200 kilometres (125 miles) southeast of the national capital, New Delhi.
Earlier, a senior government official had confirmed 97 deaths.
“We have confirmed 97 deaths so far and we are focusing on providing relief and medical help to the victims,” said Chaitra V, divisional commissioner of Aligarh city in Uttar Pradesh state. AFP.
The stampede occurred where authorities said a large crowd had gathered in an area of open land in response to a call from a local religious leader.
District police spokesman Manish Chikara put the death toll at around 60 people, but said the figure could rise.
Videos on social media showed bodies piled on the ground outside a local hospital. Reuters We were unable to immediately verify the images.
“The incident occurred due to overcrowding at a time when people were trying to leave the place,” Hathras district administrator Ashish Kumar told reporters.
An unidentified witness told broadcaster India Today that there was a narrow exit at the site: “When we tried to get out towards a field, suddenly a commotion started and we did not know what to do.”
Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state, with more than 200 million people. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered an inquiry.
“Instructions have been given to the officials concerned to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing and provide proper treatment to the injured,” he posted on X.
Fatal accidents are common at places of worship in India during major religious festivals.
At least 112 people were killed in 2016 after a massive explosion caused by a banned fireworks display at a temple marking the Hindu New Year.
The blast ripped through concrete buildings and started a fire at a temple complex in Kerala state where thousands of people had gathered.
Another 115 devotees died in 2013 after a stampede on a bridge near a temple in Madhya Pradesh.
Up to 400,000 people gathered in the area and the stampede occurred after rumours spread that the bridge was about to collapse.
Around 224 pilgrims were killed and more than 400 injured in a 2008 stampede at a hilltop temple in the northern city of Jodhpur.
