At least 11 people, including eight women, were killed and 50 others were injured in a stampede at a temple in Belabagan area of Jharkhand's Deoghar district on Monday.
The injured are undergoing treatment at a hospital.
11 killed & 50 people injured in a stampede at a temple in Belabagan in Jharkhand; Injured taken to hospital pic.twitter.com/IJPPNfpXEg
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 10, 2015
"All preparations were made for a large number of devotees. This was an unfortunate accident. The injured are being treated at the local hospital," IBNLive quoted Deputy Inspector General at Santhal DB Sharma as saying.
The incident occurred at around 5 am when devotees in queue tried to force themselves into the famous Baidyanath Dham temple soon after the doors were opened.
Rumors of temple doors being opened spread in morn,ppl started running skipping queues which led to stampede: SN Pradhan (ADG,Law & Order)
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 10, 2015
The local administration at the venue failed to control the crowd that resulted in the mishap. However, the situation is now under control and the rest of the devotees gathered outside the temple were allowed entry to offer prayers.
Thousands of devotees had gathered outside the temple to offer holy water of the River Ganges to Lord Shiva on the auspicious Monday of Savan (the holy month of the year according to Hindu calendar).