Deoghar (Jharkhand):Â At least 11 people have been killed and several others injured in a stampede during a religious festival close to a temple of Goddess Durga in Jharkhand’s Deoghar.
According to Police officials thousands of people tried to force their way into the temple when its gates were opened early Monday in Deogarh.
11 pilgrims, including eight women, died and another 24 were injured, official said. According to the district administration, the stampede occurred at 5 am when people were trying to jump queue in order to get closer to the temple.
At least 80,000 people gathered at the temple and formed a 15 kms long queue.
The injured are being treated at local hospital.
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Godda, Nishikant Dubey on Monday said that the administration can be held responsible for not being able to make adequate arrangements that led to a stampede at Durga temple in Belabagan area of Jharkhand’s Deoghar district on Monday morning.Â
“I take full responsibility of this. I find myself guilty.11 people have died. We all should be held responsible for not being able to make adequate arrangements. We will take lesson from this,” Dubey said.Â
“There is a strong need to create infrastructure and there should be a time slot for offering prayers and for crowd management. We would like to appeal to the centre and the state government to make a long term plan for the appropriate arrangements so that such incidents do not recur,” he added.Â
Â
(with agency inputs)