Sabrimala temple stampede: 2 critical out of 31 injured

New Delhi : 31 people were injured in a minor stampede at Malikappuram at Sabarimala Sannidhanam on the eve of the annual Mandalam festival on Sunday. 2 of them are critical and are battling their lives in the hospital.

The stampede occurred at around 6:40 pm after an iron railing fell over devotees standing below it.

The Hindu quotes an eye witness: The several hundred pilgrims had been waiting on the northern side of the Lower Tirumuttom since 12 noon. The police had blocked access by stretching a rope between the iron railings of the barricade. The tragedy struck when the iron railings collapsed under the weight of the crowd.

All injured were rushed to a nearby Sannidhanam Government Hospital for first-aid before being shifted to Pampa in the foothills.