Gangasagar stampede : 6 killed, 10 hospitalised; PM announces Rs 2 lakh compensation to kin of deceased

A stampede has killed at least six people at the Makar Sakranti fair at West Bengal's Gangasagar. Initial reports have confirmed that several other people have also been injured. 

Agency inputs say that at least 10 of the injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital.

There were at leat a 1000 people present at the annual fair of Makar Sakranti, as people from across the nation gather at coast of Bay of Bengal to take a holy dip at the point where Ganges river meets sea. 

More details are awaited. 

Live updates: 

#PM approved ex-gratia from PMNRF, of Rs 2 lakh for next of kin of those deceased & Rs. 50,000 for those injured in the stampede in WB

Live | Stampede at #GangasagarMela #MakarSankranti fair: Death toll rises to 6, 10 others injuredhttps://t.co/AwomkIwlcw pic.twitter.com/0vNgyYwwlm

— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) January 15, 2017

Latest visuals from the Gangasagar (West Bengal) fair stampede site, 6 dead and 10 hospitalised. pic.twitter.com/qCkVBED0uG

— ANI (@ANI_news) January 15, 2017

#Death toll rises to six, several other injured.

#Gangasagar fair stampede: Stampede happened on jetty number 5 of Kachuberia area (South24 Parganas) while people were getting on the boat, officials said. (Agency input)

Also read | Makar Sankranti: 9 lakh take holy dip at Gangasagar to celebrate end of winter solicit

On Saturday, Over nine lakh pilgrims took a holy dip at the Gangasagar on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and offered prayers at Kapil Muni Ashram amidst tight security that is in place in view of the Gangasagar Mela.