10 die in Jharkhand temple stampede

Jharkhand CM announces a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh to the kin of those killed

Pilgrims at the Shiva temple at Deoghar. According to the district administration, the stampede occurred at 5 am when people were trying to jump the queue at the temple. Photo: Manob Chowdhury

At least 10 pilgrims died and over 50 injured early on Monday morning near Lord Shiva temple in Deoghar district of Jharkhand.

Most of the injured persons have been admitted to a local hospital. Most of them are from neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh and Nepal. The incident happened at 4:30 am on Monday.

Police officials confirmed that altogether 11 people have died and several others injured when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims standing in queue to offer holy water to Shiva at the famous Deoghar temple jostled with each other and stampede happened.

The number of dead and injured may go up, said a police official.

PM Modi condoled the death of the pilgrims:

Pained at loss of lives due to the stampede in Jharkhand. My thoughts & prayers are with the families of the deceased in this hour of grief

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) >August 10, 2015

I pray that the injured recover quickly. I spoke to CM Raghubar Das ji on the incident.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) >August 10, 2015

In the month-long Shrawani Mela in August, the devotees offer the holy Ganga water to lord Shiva temple mostly on Monday, as being considered most auspicious.

Police officials said the pilgrims were standing in two long queues for their turn to offer holy water at the temple.

More then two lakh devotees were expected to offer puja on Monday.

The pilgrims take holy Ganga water from Sultanganj near Bhagalpur in Bihar and cover about 98 kms on feet to offer the water to Lord Shiva at the famous Baba Dham temple.

Earlier, in August 2007 too, at least five women were killed and 10 injured in a stampede at the Baba Baidyanath temple.

The incident happened about 10 km away from the temple. But on Monday, the queue went 15 km from the temple.

PTI adds:

Jharkhand CM announces compensation

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today announced compensation of Rs two lakh to the kin of those killed in an early morning stampede at the temple town of Deogarh.

The injured would be given Rs 50,000, an official statement said here.

The Chief Minister is monitoring the situation.

Home Secretary N N Pandey, Additional Director General of Police S N Pradhan and other officials have been supervising the rescue operation and treatment of more than 30 persons, the statement said.