Three women were killed and four injured in a stampede outside Khatu Shyamji Temple in Sikar, Rajasthan on Monday.
Devotees queued up at around 4:30 am for ‘darshan‘ outside the Khatu Shyam ji Temple in Sikar, Rajasthan, on the auspicious Hindu occasion of ‘Gyaras.’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot condoled the deaths and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
A 63-year-old woman is said to have collapsed in the ensuing stampede due to the rush by the devotees. Two other women too fell and died in the stampede.
Local police identified the 63-year-old deceased as Ms. Shanti Devi.
The family had arrived from Hisar in Haryana.
Devi’s daughter Poonam said some other family members, including girls, too fell in the stampede but they managed to escape.
“We were all standing together in a queue when we felt a sudden push from behind and all of us fell. My mother died in the incident,” she said with tears in her eyes.
Expressing his anguish, Modi tweeted, “Saddened by the loss of lives due to a stampede at the Khatu Shyamji Temple complex in Sikar, Rajasthan. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that those who are injured recover at the earliest.”
Chief minister Ashok Gehlot, too, expressed his grief. “Death of three women due to stampede in Khatu Shyam ji in Sikar is very sad and unfortunate. My deepest condolences are with the bereaved family members,” he tweeted in Hindi.
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Former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, BJP state president Satish Poonia and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje were among the other leaders who condoled the deaths.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condoled the loss of lives in the incident.
“The news of stampede at Khatu Shyam ji’s fair in Sikar, Rajasthan is very saddening. I wish the injured a speedy recovery and peace to the departed souls and also express my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives,” Gandhi said in a Facebook post in Hindi.
“I appeal to all the Congress workers of Rajasthan to help the local people, along with the administration at the earliest,” the former Congress chief said.
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Poonia demanded the state government to release compensation for the kin of those killed and injured.
Raje demanded an investigation into the incident and action against the guilty so that such incidents do not recur.
CCTV footage is being examined for better clarity on the incident, the SP said, adding efforts are being made to identify the two other deceased.
Rajasthan CM announces ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for kin of those killed