Ten killed in stampede at temple in Satna

The stampede occurred when few devotees were performing circumambulation by rolling over the five-kilometer long pathway that surrounds the temple

A stampede at Kamtanath Pahad temple in Chitrakoot in Satna district, some 500 km north-east of Bhopal, on Monday morning, killed 10 people and left several others injured, police said on Monday.

"As many as ten people, including women, were killed while several others were injured in the stampede," said Pawan Shrivastava, Inspector General of Police, Rewa division.

He added, "Seven of them have been identified and three others are yet to be identified. As many as 18 persons suffered various injuries. One person is critical and has been referred to Satna district hospital while the others were rushed to Jankikund Hospital. Six people were discharged after being given primary treatment."

The rest, he said, were under treatment but out of danger.

A probe has been ordered by the government to ascertain the cause of the stampede.

A police official told BS, "The stampede seems to have occurred when few devotees were performing circumambulation by rolling over the five-kilometer long pathway that surrounds the temple to propitiate Lord Shiva on the occasion of Somvati Amavasya."

The state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2,00,000 each to the next of kin of those killed in the stampede.

"The kin of the deceased in the mishap will be given Rs 2,00,000 lakh each and Rs 50,000 will be given as compensation to each who sustained injuries," a government official said.

Police and locals said several pilgrims had gathered at Kamtanath Pahad temple for prayers when an exposing electric wire suddenly broke and came hanging loose on temple premises. It triggered panic among devotees who tried to escape from getting electrocuted.

A similar stampede ten months back in Ratangarh temple of Datia district had killed 120 people.