Dozens die in stampede at Indian festival

Thirty-two people, mostly women and children, have been killed in a stampede in northern India triggered by rumours that an electrical cable had fallen on people during a hindu festival, Sky News reported.

The stampede started when thousands of people who had gathered at Gandhi Maidan in the state of Bihar to celebrate the festival of Dusshera started to leave the venue after watching an effigy of the demon God Ravana set ablaze.

Home secretary of the state of Bihar, Amir Subhani, said: "Thirty-two people have died in the stampede ... A few dozen people could be injured. Senior officials are at the hospital, including the Health Secretary, and treatment is being ensured."

The celebrations were organised by the government, but witnesses say it lacked crowd control measures.

Anxious people were seen searching for missing relatives at hospitals. Many were seen shouting slogans against the administration and the government.

The police have launched an investigation into the incident.