At least seven women are reported killed in a stampede at a Hindu temple in India, according to multiple outlets. The incident occurs as thousands of devotees arrive for Monday prayers, and witnesses and reports describe panic spreading among the crowd.
Several accounts link the stampede to rumours that an electricity pole has fallen and hit worshippers or is threatening the area. The Independent says the stampede is caused by a falling electric pole, while Euronews reports that panic starts after rumours the pole fell on devotees. Both describe large numbers of attendees arriving by train and overwhelming security arrangements.
Across the reports, the main differing element is the level of certainty about whether the pole actually falls on devotees versus speculation and rumours prompting the panic. Details such as the exact location within the temple complex and the immediate confirmation of what the pole did vary by outlet, but they converge on the same core sequence: a reported power-related incident, panic in a dense crowd, and deaths, including those of multiple women.
