19 killed in stampede on banks of Ganga

The incident took place when thousands of followers of religious leader Jai Gurudev were on their way to Domri village on the banks of the Ganga to take part in the two-day camp, police said. Nineteen people including women were killed, CMO, Varanasi, VV Singh said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also the MP from Varanasi, expressed anguish over the incident and asked senior officials to take stock of the situation. He also announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to next of kin of those killed and free treatment to the injured, who have been admitted to different hospitals in Varanasi and Chandauli, IG (Law and Order) Hariom Sharma said. People in large numbers were brought for the camp by the organisers who had taken the permission only for two to three thousand devotees. One person died due to suffocation on the bridge because of the surging crowd on the narrow Ganga bridge leading to rumours which resulted in the stampede, ADG law and order Daljit Chaudhary said. 

Spokesman of Jai Gurudev Sansthan Raj Bahadur said the devotees were proceeding towards the camp, but police started sending them back. This led to rumours that the bridge ahead had collapsed leading to stampede, Raj Bahadur said, alleging there was a serious lapse on the part of the administration. Senior police and administration officials of Varansi and Chandauli have rushed to the spot to carry out relief and rescue operations.