New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a temple stampede in Mathura.
"It is an unfortunate incident. Authorities must beef up the security. People who have been injured and suffering, must be provided with relief and an investigation must take place," Naqvi said.
At least two devotees died and 12 others were injured, when a stampede broke out at the Radha Rani temple this morning in Barsana near Mathura.
As per the latest reports, the tragedy struck when thousands of devotees had gathered for special prayers to celebrate the Hindu festival, Radhaashtami.
Many were crushed, while others tripped and came under the feet of the rushing crowd as they tried to escape through a narrow corridor of the temple.
A devotee from Delhi, Amanpreet, blamed the local administration, saying there were no proper arrangements from their side.
"There are poor arrangements, we have been stuck here from last one hour and the public inside the temple is still not in control. The police and administration are responsible for the incident," said Amanpreet.
"There are poor arrangements by the police and administration at the temple. The police are not in action, they are carelessly standing. The body of a woman is lying here, she was crushed under the crowd," said another devotee.
The injured devotees were rushed to the nearby hospitals for treatment.
The cause of the stampede is yet to be ascertained.
ANI
First Published: Sunday, September 23, 2012, 12:46