Panchmahal, Gujarat: 11 people were killed and 17 injured in a stampede at Pawagarh, in Gujarat's Panchmahal district, approximately 150 Km from Ahmedabad.
The incident took place early on Sunday at the Mahakali temple, where thousands of devotees gathered to offer prayers on the third day of the Hindu festival of Navratri. Panchmahal is about 150 km from Ahmedabad.
Over 1 lakh devotees were present in the temple complex at the time of the stampede, which took place at an area known as Patia Pul, a narrow uphill path that leads to the temple, which is one of the oldest in India.
"The stampede occurred between devotees who were coming down the hill and those who were climbing their way up", said the Resident District Collector of Panchmahal, R K Rathod.
11 bodies have been recovered from the stampede. 3 people have been critically injured and they have been sent to Vadodara hospital.
"The situation is under control at present. The stampede occurred in a flash. Rescue operations were conducted swiftly. The path leading to the temple is all clear now," he added.
Superintendent of Police Dipankar Trivedi blamed narrow lanes and overcrowding for the accident.
"This incident happened near Tarapore gate. There was a huge crowd there, someone had dropped something and to pick that up, the crowd gathered," said Trivedi.
The state government has said it will give one lakh rupees to the families of those killed.
The Gujarat government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and two senior ministers have rushed to the spot.
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