Stampede at religious gathering in northern India claims dozens of lives

At least 27 people were killed and dozens injured in a stampede during a religious gathering in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where hundreds of worshippers had gathered.

According to Umesh Kumar Tripathi, a doctor in Etah district in western Uttar Pradesh, most of the dead so far have been women and children who were unable to escape the crowd of worshippers trying to escape.

“More people are being taken to other hospitals,” Mr Tripathi said. “The death toll could rise.”

In India, deadly stampedes during religious pilgrimages are common due to poor enforcement of public safety measures. In recent years, authorities have increased surveillance of large religious gatherings by deploying more police and using drones.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.