Stampede at Mayawati's massive rally in Lucknow; two dead, several injured

Lucknow: At least two persons were killed and several others were injured after a stampede took place at an election rally addressed by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati at Lucknow today. 

According to a report, while two were suffocated to death, at least 13-15 persons are said to have been injured in the sudden mass panic. Several children are also said to be missing after the stampede broke out at the rally.

The incident happened when a large group was trying to force its entry from gate number 1 at the Kanshiram Smarak Sthal, the rally venue. 

The two women fell down in the melee and got crushed by others. The injured were taken to the Lokbandhu Hospital where the condition of one person was said to be critical.

All the injured are being taken to a nearby government hospital for medical treatment.

BSP state president Ramachal Rajbhar, however, denied that people were killed in the stampede at Mayawati's rally and said that one of the women, who lost her life in the rally, had died of humidity and not in the stampede.

A police officer blamed overcrowding as the reason behind the tragedy.

Earlier today, BSP supremo Mayawati addressed a massive crowd in Lucknow on the tenth anniversary of Kansi Ram. The rally is said to have been attended by at least ten lakh people.