West Bengal: Stampede in Gangasagar fair, at least 6 dead

In a tragic incident, six Gangasagar pilgrims died in stampede in Kochuberia jetty in West Bengal. 

Gangasagar fair stampede: Stampede happened on jetty number 5 of Kachuberia area (South24 Parganas) while people were getting on the boat

— ANI (@ANI_news) January 15, 2017

According to reports, at least 15 are seriously injured. The death till is likely to go up. PM Narendra Modi has expressed deep regrets reacting to the tragic incident.

PM approved ex-gratia from PMNRF, of Rs 2 lakh for next of kin of those deceased & Rs. 50,000 for those injured in the stampede in WB.

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 15, 2017

District officials said two pilgrims died on the spot and four, including a woman in the hospital. The stampede occured at around 6 pm when there was a huge rush of pilgrims to board vessels to reach Kolkata, the officials said adding all of them were middle aged and are yet to be identified. A search has been launched by naval divers to find out anybody who might have fallen into Buriganga river during the stampede, they added. 

At least 16 lakh pilgrims took the holy dip at Gangasagar on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on Saturday and offered puja at the Kapil Muni temple, West Bengal Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Subrata Mukherjee said.

A drone and 20 vessels, including several from the Coast Guard, were being used for surveillance. The theme of Ganga Sagar mela being 'Green and Clean' this year, the administration made arrangements for 10,000 toilets so that people could use it.

Developing story

With agency inputs