Bhopal: At least 115 pilgrims, including 30 children were killed and more than 100 injured in a stampede on narrow bridge to the historic Ratangarh temple in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. This is shocking re-run of the 2006 tragedy at the same site when 50 pilgrims were washed away. The bridge over the swollen Sindh river, which leads to the temple was chock-a-block with over one lakh devotees from Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring UP on auspicious Navami day.
Swirling rumours about an imminent collapse of the bridge after a police lathicharge on devotees triggered panic. While scores of pilgrims were trampled, others were drowned after jumping into the swollen river. Bodies lay sprawled on the bridge even as rescue teams from Gwalior were delayed due to battered roads and a 10-km traffic jam. There were only nine constables and a sub-inspector manning the over-lakh crowd on the 500-metre long bridge when the tragedy took place.
The mishap occurred when a large number of devotees arrived from Datia and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh at the Durga temple at Ratangarh, about 60 kms from the district headquarters, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Chambal Range, D K Arya said. Over 100 people have been injured in the mishap and they have been admitted in nearby hospitals, he said. Meanwhile, police resorted to mild lathicharge to control an angry crowd which pelted stones at the cops. Unconfirmed reports said that the stampede took place as some people were trying to jump the queue and police used batons to control them
A sub divisional police officer suffered serious injuries after being hit by stones, the DIG said, adding that some other policemen were also injured. Heart-rending scenes were witnessed as anxious relatives searced for their loved ones from the large number of bodies that lay on the bridge. The irate crowd, protesting over the incident, pelted stones and clashed with the cops following which police resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse them. Amid the chaos, police and local volunteers had a tough time to bring the situation under control.
The state government has ordered a judicial probe into the incident and with the approval of the State Election Commission, has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh to the kin of those killed in the stampede. The government also announced an assistance of Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured and Rs 25,000 each for those who suffered minor injuries in the mishap. MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed grief over the tragedy. In a statement, Congress president Sonia Gandhi also expressed shock and anguish over the unfortunate turnout of events this morning.
