90 killed in stampede in central India

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NEW DELHI, Oct. 13 -- At least 90 people were killed and more than 100 others injured in a stampede in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh Sunday, a senior police official said.

"The death toll has risen to 91 and 10 others are in a critical condition," Deputy Inspector General of Police D.K. Arya told the media.

"The incident happened at a temple in the state's Datia district, where some 500,000 devotees gathered for a religious festival," he said.

He had earlier put the death toll at between 50 and 60.

Quoting eye-witnesses, some local TV channels reported that the stampede broke out after some devotees jumped queue and police resorted to baton charge to control the crowd.

However, some other media reported the stampede took place after the devotees ran haywire following a rumor that a bridge had collapsed, following which many people even jumped on to a swollen river.

A probe has been ordered into the incident, the official said.

State Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced a compensation of 1.5 lakh rupees (3,000 U.S. dollars) each to the families of the deceased.

In the past year, dozens of people were killed in three similar tragedies. In 2011, over 100 died at a festival in the southern state of Kerala.

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