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| Seven killed in India stampede | Seven killed in India stampede |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Seven Hindu pilgrims have been killed in a stampede at a religious festival on the Ganges river in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal. | Seven Hindu pilgrims have been killed in a stampede at a religious festival on the Ganges river in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal. |
| More than 20 pilgrims have been injured in the incident, which took place when hundreds of devotees tried to board a ferry to take them to the festival. | |
| Every winter, Sagar island hosts the festival, the Gangasagar Mela. Pilgrims bathe in the river. | Every winter, Sagar island hosts the festival, the Gangasagar Mela. Pilgrims bathe in the river. |
| Tens of thousands of devotees also pray at the temple of the sage Kapil Muni. | Tens of thousands of devotees also pray at the temple of the sage Kapil Muni. |
| Separately, hundreds of thousands of devotees bathed in the cold waters of the Ganges river at the beginning of a three month-long Hindu religious festival, Kumbh Mela, in the town of Haridwar in north India. | Separately, hundreds of thousands of devotees bathed in the cold waters of the Ganges river at the beginning of a three month-long Hindu religious festival, Kumbh Mela, in the town of Haridwar in north India. |
| 'Unfortunate' | 'Unfortunate' |
| Thursday morning's stampede in West Bengal was triggered by a rush of pilgrims to the Gangasagar Mela. | Thursday morning's stampede in West Bengal was triggered by a rush of pilgrims to the Gangasagar Mela. |
| "These pilgrims were trying to board the first boat service to the Sagar Islands at Kakdwip when the stampede started. It is very unfortunate," senior local official Khalil Ahmed said. | "These pilgrims were trying to board the first boat service to the Sagar Islands at Kakdwip when the stampede started. It is very unfortunate," senior local official Khalil Ahmed said. |
| Police official Surojit Kar Purokayastha said, "The rush [of pilgrims to take places on a ferry] became a stampede and seven people were killed." | Police official Surojit Kar Purokayastha said, "The rush [of pilgrims to take places on a ferry] became a stampede and seven people were killed." |
| Five of the dead were women, and two were children, the police said. | Five of the dead were women, and two were children, the police said. |
| In October 2008, 224 people were killed in a stampede at a Hindu temple in the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan. | In October 2008, 224 people were killed in a stampede at a Hindu temple in the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan. |
| Meanwhile, devotees have been braving freezing temperatures to take a holy dip in the Ganges in Haridwar. | Meanwhile, devotees have been braving freezing temperatures to take a holy dip in the Ganges in Haridwar. |
| Thursday marks the start of the Kumbh Mela and devotees believe that taking a dip in the Ganges during the festival will wash away all their sins. | Thursday marks the start of the Kumbh Mela and devotees believe that taking a dip in the Ganges during the festival will wash away all their sins. |
| "After 4am [2230GMT] devotees are continuously coming for a holy dip. Many of the devotees took dip before sunrise. And now after sunrise, the rush will exceed again," news agency Reuters quoted senior police official, Alok Kumar, as saying. | "After 4am [2230GMT] devotees are continuously coming for a holy dip. Many of the devotees took dip before sunrise. And now after sunrise, the rush will exceed again," news agency Reuters quoted senior police official, Alok Kumar, as saying. |
| In the morning hours alone, about 200,000 to 300,000 people had bathed in the river, Mr Kumar said. | In the morning hours alone, about 200,000 to 300,000 people had bathed in the river, Mr Kumar said. |
| Millions of people, including women and children, have also been bathing in the Ganges river in the northern city of Allahabad. | Millions of people, including women and children, have also been bathing in the Ganges river in the northern city of Allahabad. |