Lucknow, 5th March, 2010:  63 people were killed and more than 30 injured on thursday in a stampede that broke out when thousands gathered at an Uttar Pradesh ashram for a death anniversary ceremony. Free lunch and utensils were promised at the ashram and that turned fatal.

The entry gate of Kripaluji Maharaj’s ashram near Kunda town in Pratapgarh district, about 180 km from here, caved in, triggering a stampede that claimed 60 lives and turned the place into a veritable graveyard.

The dead included a large number of women and children.

“Sixty-three bodies had been recovered but more casualties cannot be ruled out as some of the injured were serious and rushed to the Allahabad medical college for specialized treatment,” Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Brij Lal said.

The tragedy occurred when thousands of followers had converged at the Bhakti Dham ashram to attend the annual ‘bhandara’ (free lunch) hosted by Kripaluji Maharaj on the occasion of his wife’s death anniversary.

“Thousands of disciples of the godman had made a beeline for the ashram to attend the ‘bhandara’ and to get freebies like clothes and utensils when the gate suddenly gave way, bringing under its weight a number of people,” Lal said.

Rescue parties were rushed by the State from Allahabad while a top official was flown from Lucknow to personally take stock of the situation and report to Chief Minister Mayawati.