At least 11 persons, including eight women, were killed and nearly 20 injured in a stampede at a congregation at an ashram in Bharra in Jabalpur, prompting authorities to initiate a magisterial probe into the incident.
"A magisterial probe has been ordered into the stampede at a healing camp organised by one Sarota Baba alias Ishwaridas," Madhya Pradesh Health and Family welfare minister Ajay Vishnoi who visited the site said.
A large crowd gathered at the ashram of one Sarota Baba alias Ishwaridas, who had been holding camps in Katangi area claiming to cure diseases with help of herbs and spiritual healing, when the stampede broke out following heavy rains, he said.
The incident took place as people ran helter-skelter, he said adding initial reports of people being washed away in Bharra rivulet was not true.
Financial aid of Rs 50,000 has been announced to kin of the deceased, Vishnoi, who is also a local MLA, said. The injured were being treated at different hospitals and primary health centres, the minister said.