Six pilgrims die in rush; West Bengal govt says not stampede

Kachuberia: At least six pilgrims died while returning from Ganga Sagar fair here on Sunday, which the officials initially said was a stampede but the state government later claimed it was not.
District officials initially said two pilgrims died on the spot and three, including the woman in the hospital.
The ‘stampede’ occurred at around 6 pm when there was a huge rush of pilgrims to board vessels to reach Kolkata, the officials said, adding all of them were middle aged and are yet to be identified.
A search has been launched by naval divers to find out anybody who might have fallen into Buriganga river during the stampede, the officials said.
Sundarbans Development Minister Manturam Pakhira said six women died after falling ill during a rush to board a vessel at a jetty in South 24 Parganas district while returning from the Ganga Sagar fair. The incident occurred when there was a mad rush of pilgrims to board vessels at jetty number 5 to reach Kolkata, he said. (PTI)