63 killed in stampede in Kripaluji Maharaj Ashram

Thousands of villagers who came to Kripalu Maharaj's ashram, 60 kms from Pratapgarh, UP in India for a free meal Thursday were caught in a stampede, which left more than 63 dead.

The stampede took place after the gate of Kripalu Maharaj's ashram collapsed during distribution of food on the occasion of "Shradh" of his wife.

About 10,000 people had gathered at the ashram in Mangarh area when the incident occurred. Many women and children were among the dead.

The injured have been rushed to hospitals in Pratapgarh and Allahabad, the SDM said.

The ashram is spread over nearly six hectares of land and police contingents from several adjoining areas have reached there for relief operations.

Stampedes in India are common, particularly when huge crowds come to temples and other religious sites for special occasions. In August 2008, about 150 people died in a stampede at a temple in northern India during a religious festival, after rumors of a landslide panicked the crowd.