65 killed in stampede in Temple at Pratapgarh, UP

At least 65 people, nearly all of them women and children were killed and 29 others injured in a stampede at Pratapgarh in UP on Thursday in a local ashram after a collapse of its gate triggered panic among about 10,000 people who had converged for a ritual. 37 women and 26 children were among those killed after they were trampled over by the crowd that had gathered at Kripalu Maharaj's ashram during distribution of food and utensils for the "Shradh" (post-death rites) of his wife, Sub-divisional Magistrate Kunda Shyama Charan said. Inspector General of Police (Allahabad Range) Chandra Prakash said at least 29 people have been injured in the stampede at the ashram in Mangarh area of the district.
The injured have been rushed to hospitals in Pratapgarh and Allahabad, about 75 kms from UP, officials said. Eyewitnesses said that many of those killed had fallen into a borewell near the gate. Officials said the district authorities were not given prior intimation about the function. Angry relatives of victims alleged they were not being allowed by the police to look for the bodies of their loved ones. The ashram is spread over nearly six hectares of land in a remote area. Police contingents from several adjoining areas have reached there for relief operations.