Christians mourn death of 145 Hindu pilgrims in temple stampede

In one of the worst ever temple stampede in Himachal Pradesh, over 146 devotees including 30 children and 38 women were killed on Sunday at the Naina Devi shrine.

The stampede that was triggered by rumours of a landslide, spread fear among devotees who were trekking up to the shrine to offer prayers to a goddess in the foothills of the Himalayas. More than 50 have been injured in the incident.

According to news sources, an estimated 50,000 pilgrims had gathered at the popular temple for the occasion of 'Navatra', a nine–day religious festival.

"The death toll as of now is 148, and 48 people are injured," a police spokesman said early Monday. Most people died of suffocation, and around half the dead were women or children, officials said.

Many of the deceased were from neighbouring Punjab and the capital New Delhi.

Punjab's chief minister, Parkash Singh Badal, announced the next of kin of the dead would receive 100,000 rupees (2,400 dollars) in compensation.
Meanwhile, Haryana Governor Dr A R Kidwai and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda have expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident that took place near Naina Devi Temple.

While Christians in the country mourns the sad death of the Hindu pilgrims, Global Council of Indian Christians, a major advocacy group, has extended condolences to the victims of the stampede.