At least 10 Hindu pilgrims, including seven women, were killed and 50 others injured on Friday in a stampede when hundreds of thousands converged for the annual ‘Ashtami Snan’ on the banks of the OldBrahmaputraRiver outside the Bangladeshi capital.
Devotees thronged the venue of the ‘Ashtami Snan’ in Bandar upazila of Narayanganj early morning and the bathing started at 5:48 AM. The flow of devotees peaked within a few hours, Narayanganj Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Jakaria said.
Although the local administration had arranged for 16 quays for the ritual bath, the devotees had raced to ‘Rajghat’. The stampede took place between 9.15 to 10 am, Jakaria said.
“Most of the victims were aged over 50 years…Seven women were among the dead in the stampede during the ‘Ashtami Snan’ at Langalbandh, Narayanganj,” a police official said.
Officials said 10 people were killed and at least 50 devotees injured, who were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
“The incident took place when hundreds of people were trying to rush to the river from two adjacentghats (terminals) from the narrow bank…most of the victims apparently died instantly,” an eyewitness said.
