PAGAN WATCH:Stampede kills 145 Hindu worshippers in India

CHANDIGARH, India-At least 145 people, mostly women and children, were crushed to death under the feet of thousands of pilgrims in a stampede at a temple in northern India on Sunday, police said.Hindu worshippers, chanting and singing hymns, were snaking up a 4-km (2.5-mile) trail leading to a hill-top temple in Himachal Pradesh state when the stampede occurred.Police said the pilgrims might have panicked after heavy rains caused some loose stones from a retaining wall along the hilly trail to fall.The pilgrims started fleeing down the slope, breaking an iron side railing and trampling falling women and children under their feet, said Daljit Singh Manhas, a senior police officer."We have confirmation now that 145 people have been killed," he told Reuters. "We found eight to 10 stones which had fallen off and probably scared the people, causing the stampede."At least 40 children and 45 women were among the dead, police and health department officials said.Thousands of worshippers had gathered at the temple in Bilaspur district to pray to a Hindu goddess during the annual festival.Authorities said at last 48 people were injured, but this figure could rise as dozens of people were admitted to private clinics as well.
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As in the days of Noah..