At least six people died, and 55 others were injured in a stampede at a religious gathering in the West India state early Saturday.
The Press Trust of India news agency quoted the police as saying that the stampede occurred after thousands of visitors gathered in the narrow corridors leading to a temple in the village of Shergow, about 40 kilometers from the state capital.
Tens of thousands of visitors from the air and the adjacent states attended the Macharashtra and Carnataka, the annual Hindu Festival in the Sri Layrai Derevi Temple.
The agency quoted Police Director Awlak Kumar as saying that the stampede occurred as a result of the fall of the people who were standing on a slope near the temple, which led to the people falling on each other.
The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. The authorities ordered an investigation into the accident.
It is noteworthy that deadly stampede incidents are relatively common in Indian religious festivals, where crowds often gather in small areas.
Last January, at least 30 people were killed, and many others were injured in a stampede, while tens of thousands of Hindus rushed to shower in a river at the huge Indian Maha Coma Festival.
