At least 16 persons, including 14 women, were killed and 46 others injured in a stampede in Hardwar on Tuesday.
The SDM of Hardwar, Harbir Singh, confirmed the number of deaths. The process to identify the victims and conduct post-mortem examinations of the bodies has begun. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered and the injured are being treated in various hospitals.
Uttarakhand chief minister B.C. Khanduri visited the hospitals and met the injured. He has announced a compensation of `2 lakh for the kin of each of those who lost their lives. The Gayatri Parivar has cancelled its cultural shows as a mark of respect for the deceased and a special pra-yer meeting will be held at the venue on Wednesday.
The stampede took place at Laljiwala, where the Gayatri Mahakumbh is being held to mark the birth centenary celebrations of Pandit Shri Ram Sharma Acharya who founded the Gayatri Parivar. The incident took place at the Yagyashala just before noon, when one woman devotee reportedly fainted after being caught in the surging crowds. Some other devotees walking in from behind fell over her. Gayatri Parivar spokesperson Divesh Vyas told local reporters that most people died due to suffocation. Volunteers from the Gayatri Parivar immediately swung into action and took the victims from the site to the makeshift hospital. Most of the victims who were hospitalised were in shock and could not speak.
The volunteers used the public address system to inform other devotees about the accident and prevent rumours.
However, the state DGP said suffocation due to the yagna might be the reason for the stampede.