At Least 28 Killed in South India Stampede

18/12/2005| IslamWeb

At least 28 homeless people were trampled to death on Sunday and many others injured in a stampede during the distribution of food coupons at a flood relief centre in southern India, television news channels said.

The early morning incident occurred in Chennai, formerly known as Madras, when thousands of people had lined up for the coupons, Aaj Tak channel said.

The channel said the stampede occurred when it started to rain during the distribution of coupons, which recipients exchange to receive food packets. Chennai is capital of Tamil Nadu state.

Another TV station, Zee News, said 42 people had died in the incident, triggered by a rumour that the coupons had finished.

Chennai and many other parts of Tamil Nadu have been lashed by heavy rains in the past few weeks. Many coastal villages have been inundated, leaving thousands homeless.

PHOTO CAPTION

Slippers of stampede victims lie on a road in the southern Indian city of Chennai, formerly knows as Madras December 18, 2005. (REUTERS)