A senior police officer in the Deogarh district of Jharkhand state says the stampede occurred early Monday morning as tens of thousands of devotees gathered to celebrate the birth anniversary of a revered local Hindu religious leader. The officer, Subodh Prasad, had few other details but says all but one of those killed were women.
Prasad says the temple is part of a sprawling ashram or religious compound that honors Sant Thakur Anukul Chand.
The area is about 235 kilometers (145 miles) north of Jharkhand's capital, Ranchi.
