Ten pilgrims were killed and about 60 injured following a stampede in a temple in Chitrakoot area of Satna district of Madhya Pradesh early on Monday.
The tragedy occurred at Kamtanath Pahad temple about 80 km from Satna district headquarters on the Madhya Pradesh- Uttar Pradesh border. A large number of devotees had gathered at the pilgrimage centre on the occasion of ‘Amavasya’ and the incident occurred during the circumambulation [parikrama or pradakashnam] of the Kamtanath pahad. A rope barrier to help guide the pilgrims reportedly gave way leading to a sudden rush of people, which resulted in the stampede.
Kamadgiri hill is a place believed to have been the abode of Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman during their exile. The path around the hill is about 5 km long. There are a large number of temples in the Parikrama pathway. The stampede reportedly took place near Bharat Milap Temple.
Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of those killed in the stampede and Rs. 50,000 to the injured.
The Satna Collector has ordered a magisterial enquiry.
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