Dozens of Hindu pilgrims killed in stampede to temple

More than 90 Hindu pilgrims were killed in a stampede as they crossed a bridge to reach a temple in central India.

Police claimed the stampede was caused by panic among pilgrims who feared the bridge they were crossing was about to collapse, but survivors it was caused by a baton charge by police to impose order.

The victims died in the stampede or fell into the River Sindh below and drowned. Some of them had thrown stones at the police in retaliation.

They were among 20,000 pilgrims on the bridge trying to join another 400,000 at the ancient Ratangarh temple in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district 230 miles from Bhopal.

Police fear the death toll could rise to 100.

D K Arya, Deputy Inspector General of Police in Chambal said devotees from Uttar Pradesh had started the rumour that bridge was collapsing.