Deadly stampede in Madhya Pradesh, India, was the second at temple

Outrage mounted in India yesterday after at least 115 devotees were crushed to death or drowned near a Hindu temple, the site of another deadly stampede only seven years ago.

As survivors of Sunday's tragedy on a bridge told how desperate mothers threw their children into the water below, authorities came under fire over policing levels amid claims the panic was aggravated by baton-charging.

Medics were also battling to save the lives of 10 critically ill survivors after the stampede in the town of Ratangarh in the central state of Madhya Pradesh.

"The death toll has now gone up to 115 and more than 110 injured," deputy police inspector general D. K. Arya said. "Ten of those are in a very critical state."

The operation to recover the bodies finished yesterday.

The tragedy came during celebrations to mark the end of one of the holiest festivals in the Hindu calendar. Police said the panic was caused by rumours that the bridge was about to collapse.

Up to 400,000 devotees were already inside or around the temple when the stampede took place, while there were about 20,000 people on the bridge which spans the River Sindh.