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Many die in India temple stampede Many die in India temple stampede
(about 4 hours later)
At least 60 people have died in a stampede after the gate of a Hindu temple collapsed in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police say. At least 63 people have died in a stampede after the gate of a Hindu temple collapsed in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police say.
Another 25 devotees were injured at the temple in Pratapgarh district, some 650km (400 miles) south-east of Delhi. Dozens more were injured in the panic at the temple in Pratapgarh district, 650km (400 miles) south-east of Delhi.
Devotees had gathered for a ritual feast, police told the BBC. All of the dead identified so far are women and children, police say. The temple gate was still being built.
It is still unclear what caused the gate to collapse. Hundreds of people have been killed in stampedes at crowded Indian temples in recent years. Hundreds of people have been killed in stampedes at crowded Indian temples in recent years.
'Counted all the bodies'
Thursday's disaster happened at a popular Ram Janaki temple in the town of Kunda in Pratapgarh district, about 25km (15 miles) north of the city of Allahabad.
The temple is owned by a Hindu holy man, Jagadguru Kripalu Ji Maharaj, who police say was marking the anniversary of the death of his wife with a ritual feast.
INDIA STAMPEDES January 2010: Seven people die at festival on Ganges in West BengalSeptember 2008: More than 220 people die at temple in JodhpurAugust 2008: At least 140 people die at temple in Himachal PradeshMarch 2008: At least eight people killed at temple in Madhya Pradesh January 2005: Up to 300 people die on pilgrimage to Maharashtra temple Timeline: Most deadly stampedes
Thousands of people had gathered for the ceremonial feast and free distribution of clothes - the stampede occurred when people scrambled to collect the offerings being handed out.
Local journalists told the BBC they were mostly poor people from local villages.
Police officials said an iron gate leading to the temple complex collapsed, leading to a crowd surge.
"We have now counted all the bodies and they include 37 children and 26 women who had come to collect free gifts," assistant superintendent of police SP Pathak told AFP news agency from the scene of the disaster.
The BBC's Ram Dutt Tripathi in the state capital, Lucknow, said the temple gate was under construction when it collapsed.
Emergency teams and ambulances were rushed to the site, some from neighbouring districts and the injured have been taken to hospitals.
Eyewitnesses say it took a while for help to arrive and there was no-one on hand initially to offer them any assistance.
There have been a number of similar accidents in India in which large numbers of people congregate in an area ill-equipped to handle big gatherings.
In 2008, nearly 300 people were killed in stampedes and scores injured in two different Hindu temples in Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh states.In 2008, nearly 300 people were killed in stampedes and scores injured in two different Hindu temples in Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh states.
Thursday's disaster happened at a popular Ram Janaki temple in the town of Kunda in Pratapgarh district. The temple is owned by a Hindu holy man, Jagadguru Kripalu Ji Maharaj.
"The toll is likely to rise further as many women and children are injured. At least 20 are serious," one police officer told Reuters news agency.
The BBC's Ram Dutt Tripathi in the state capital, Lucknow, says the temple gate was under construction when it collapsed, causing the stampede.
Devotees had gathered for a ceremonial feast and free distribution of clothes.