More than 140 dead in Indian temple stampede

[DS1]

Source: Reuters

JODHPUR, India (Reuters) - At least 147 people died in a stampede at a temple in the Indian desert state of Rajasthan as Hindus gathered to begin one of the most important religious festivals of the year, police said Tuesday.
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A handful of people fell while climbing a steep slope toward the Chamunda temple, sited inside a hilltop fort near the city of Jodhpur, triggering the crush, a Reuters photographer at the scene said.

"People were falling over one another. Many ran but were trampled under the feet of thousands," Anubhav, a witness who only gave his first name, said.

Other witnesses said too many people were trying to pass through a narrow part of the climb at the same time. Many suffocated after they fell.

"We have a final figure of 147 people died and 55 injured," Rajiv Dasoth, an inspector-general with the Rajasthan police, said. "The situation is under control and all the injured are being taken care of in hospitals."

Officials said the crowds were especially large Tuesday, as pilgrims gathered for the start of the nine-day Navratri festival.

"Some people fell on a ramp leading to the temple and it caused more casualties," Dasoth said, adding a barricade separating women and children from men broke, leading to more casualties.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080930/wl_nm/us_india_stampede_11

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Yo. Chill.

[YOY]

1. Ugh...how horrible.

n.t.

[Coventina]

2. Death toll up to 168

Per the Belfast Telegraph....

[snooper2]

3. religion strikes again

nt

[Coventina]

4. And when things like this happen at sporting events and concerts

do you say "athletics strikes again" or "music strikes again"?

It's about the crowds of people, not the event.

[snooper2]

5. not the same thing entirely..

I guess if some mob mentality happens and 600 people rush the stage to touch Bon Jovi it's still the same sort of worship mentality...

People fighting at sporting events and getting trampled is a different thing...

[otherlander]

9. The stampede

was caused by rumors of a bomb.

[Chovexani]

10. How the fuck is it different?

FYI it was a rumor of a bomb present that caused the stampede. But I guess religious people are so fucking stupid to you that they'd stampede because of their lolgod experience.

Gather a lot of people in one place and all it takes is one or two people yelling the wrong thing for tragedy to happen. It's happened at sporting events, concerts, hell it even happens at shopping malls. The reason they are gathered is absolutely irrelevant, unless you're an atheist douchebag that wanks off to bad things happening to religious people. All it indicates is a need for better planning/crowd control.

You know, it's a good thing I've got atheist friends who aren't complete douchebags, or I'd write all of you off.

[Coventina]

11. Thanks! n/t

[Haole Girl]

6. What a horrific way to die

That is a lot of people in one concentrated area. I don't think a lot of Americans can fully grasp what it's like.

[kegler14]

7. There are Freepers who are actually celebrating this.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2093937/posts?page=1

[kegler14]

8. Oops, it's been pulled.