- Stampede takes place in village near New Delhi.
- Scores of others injured with rising death toll.
- Unverified videos show bodies piled outside hospital.
LUCKNOW: The death toll from stampede at a Hindu religious gathering in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh continues to rise as at least 116 people were reportedly killed with scores of others injured, a local official said on Tuesday.
The situation becomes alarming as the the casualties have drastically soared from 27, the number of deaths initally reported from the deadly rush in a village in Hathras district, located about 200 km (125 miles) southeast of the national capital New Delhi.
Earlier, senior government official had confirmed 97 deaths.
“We have confirmed 97 deaths so far and are focusing on providing relief and medical aid for the victims,” Chaitra V, divisional commissioner of Aligarh city in Uttar Pradesh state, told AFP.
The stampede happened where authorities said a large crowd had gathered on an area of open ground in response to a call from a local religious leader.
District police spokesperson Manish Chikara put the death toll at about 60 people, but said that figure may rise.
Videos on social media showed bodies piled up on the ground outside a local hospital. Reuters could not immediately verify the images.
“The incident happened due to overcrowding at the time when people were trying to leave the venue,” Hathras district administrator Ashish Kumar told reporters.
An unidentified witness told broadcaster India Today that there was a narrow exit at the venue: “As we tried to exit towards a field, suddenly a commotion started, and we didn’t know what to do.”
Uttar Pradesh is India’s most populous state with more than 200 million people. Its Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered an investigation.
“Instructions have been given to the concerned officials to conduct relief and rescue operations on war footing and to provide proper treatment to the injured,” he posted on X.
Deadly accidents are common at places of worship in India during major religious festivals.
At least 112 people were killed in 2016 after a huge explosion caused by a banned fireworks display at a temple marking the Hindu new year.
The blast ripped through concrete buildings and ignited a fire at a temple complex in Kerala state, where thousands had gathered.
Another 115 devotees died in 2013 after a stampede at a bridge near a temple in Madhya Pradesh.
Up to 400,000 people were gathered in the area, and the stampede occurred after a rumour spread that the bridge was about to collapse.
About 224 pilgrims died and more than 400 others were injured in a 2008 stampede at a hilltop temple in the northern city of Jodhpur.
