At Least 39 Killed in Stampede at Hindu Festival in India

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, August 27, 2003

At Least 39 Killed in Stampede at Hindu Festival in India

A stampede at a Hindu religious festival in western India on Wednesday left at least 39 people dead and 47 others injured, an official said.

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A stampede at a Hindu religious festival in western India on Wednesday left at least 39 people dead and 47 others injured, an official said.

The stampede took place as more than a million Hindu devotees assembled for a bathing festival in the Godavari River at Nasik, about 110 miles northeast of Bombay.

Nasik Mayor Dashrath Patil said 39 people had been killed and at least 47 had been injured.

"There were some 50,000 people behind one barricade and they were pushing. The barricade suddenly broke and they just fell down," said Chhagan Bhujbal, deputy chief minister of Maharashtra state. He said at least 20 people had died.

"People at the back just began walking on them and that's how the stampede happened," said Bhujbal. "It was a tragic accident."

At least 60 people were injured, Aaj Tak television reported, quoting unidentified local officials. It said most of the dead were elderly women.

The Kumbh Mela festival is held every 12 years, timed in connection with alignments of the Sun and Jupiter. While the main festival is held near the city of Allahabad, the Nasik festival is one of the "mini-Kumbhs" that are held more often.

Stampedes are not uncommon at major Hindu religious festivals, which can attract millions of worshippers.

In 1999, 51 pilgrims died after a stampede caused a landslide at a Hindu shrine in southern India. The stampede began when a rope meant to channel the flow of people snapped.

In 1986, 50 people died in a stampede in the town of Haridwar and in 1954 about 800 pilgrims died during the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad.

The Godavari is considered sacred by Hindus, who believe they can rid themselves of sin by bathing there during special days and festivals.

Some 60 million people are estimated to take part at various times during the festival, which started July 30 and ends Sept. 1.

Police in Nasik said 1.5 million to 1.6 million people were attending the festival Wednesday.

Source: agencies

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