Nine women killed in Gujarat temple stampede

Gandhinagar, India - Nine women were trampled to death and at least six other women were injured in a stampede at a religious function in Dhoraji town in Gujarat's Rajkot district Sunday night, police said.

The condition of two of the injured, admitted to the nearby Junagadh Government Hospital, has been described by doctors as serious.

According to police, the accident took place at the Gopaldasji Haveli, the Vaishnav sect temple in Dhoraji. With more than expected number of people turning up for the religious congregation called "chhappan bhog", there was a stampede in the queue for women after two of them squabbled and came to blows.

Police are trying to identify the killed women.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his condolences and ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident. Porbandar MP Vithal Radadia, who hails from Dhoraji, has rushed to the spot.

Leader of Opposition in the assembly Shaktisinhji Gohil has also expressed his condolences.