Deadly stampede at Indian religious festival
Updated
![More than 3,000 people were trying to get into the temple at the same time when part of the iron railing broke. [Reuters]](http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/img/news/base/india_stampede_rtr_030808.jpg "More than 3,000 people were trying to get into the temple at the same time when part of the iron railing broke. [Reuters]")
More than 3,000 people were trying to get into the temple at the same time when part of the iron railing broke. [Reuters]
A stampede at a temple in northern India has left 145 people dead.
Police say iron railings around a Hindu temple in the state of Himachal Pradesh broke, causing panic, with people trampling over falling women and children.
They say children were among the first to fall to the ground and were trampled by pilgrims running to safety, even as their parents tried to save them.
Thousands of worshippers had gathered at the temple in Bilaspur district to pray to a Hindu goddess during an annual festival.
More than 3,000 people were trying to get into the temple at the same time when part of the iron railing broke.
Most of the worshippers were from the neighbouring state of Punjab.
