According to CCTV, Indian local officials say over 100 pilgrims, mostly women and children, have been killed in a stampede at a Hindu festival in the central state of Madhya Pradesh.
Hundreds of thousands had gathered near the town of Datia for the festival. Police say the chaos broke out as rumours spread that the bridge over the Sindh River was collapsing.
Other reports suggest the police sparked panic by using batons to control the crowd.
"My mother is dead and six people from my village were also killed. People were leaving from both exits after worshipping the Goddess. Suddenly, the police arrived. They began shouting that the bridge was broken and they charged the crowd with batons," eyewitness Vipul Pathak said.
"My mother is dead and six people from my village were also killed. People were leaving from both exits after worshipping the Goddess. Suddenly, the police arrived. They began shouting that the bridge was broken and they charged the crowd with batons," eyewitness Vipul Pathak said.
Many of the victims were crushed after panic broke out on the bridge near the Ratan-garh temple.
Others died when they jumped from the bridge. More than 100 people are being treated in hospital for injuries.
It is not yet clear how many people were on the bridge when the stampede began. Relatives are still searching for missing loved ones.
Local media say some 500-thousand people had gone to the remote village temple to honour the Hindu goddess Durga on the last day of the popular 10-day Navar-atri festival.
Sonia Gandhi, the leader of India’s ruling Congress Party, has expressed shock and sorrow over the tragic incident.
The Madhya Pradesh government has ordered a judicial inquiry
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