Six pilgrims, all women, died due to suffocation in a stampede during Gangasagar fair in West Bengal, a minister said.
The stampede occurred when a mad rush of crowds dashed to board a vessel at Kachuberia on their way home from Gangasagar fair after taking the holy dip.
"Six aged women died at Kachuberia temporary hospital due to heart attack. They had fallen senseless due to suffocation," Manturam Pakhira, state Sundarbans development minister, told IANS over phone.
"The mishap occurred as the pilgrims got imapatient due to the long queue at jetty number five in Kachuberi and tried to outdo others in boarding the vessel," he said.
