Up to 145 women and children crushed to death in stampede at Indian temple

Thousands of worshippers had gathered at the temple in the state of Himachal Pradesh to pray to a Hindu goddess during an annual festival.

More than 3,000 people were trying to get into the temple at the same time when an iron railing round the building broke, causing panic.

Crush: Survivors desperately try to help the victims of the stampede at Naina Devi temple in India, which claimed at least 123 lives

Children were among the first to fall to the ground and were trampledby pilgrims running to safety as their parents tried to save them, police officers said.

Dozens more people were hurt in the crush and had to be taken to hospital for treatment.

The casualties included more than 40 children and at least 45 women.

'There were a lot of people inside and we were trying to fight for space when everyone started falling over,' one female worshipper said.

'We have confirmation now that 145 people have been killed,' senior officer Daljit Singh Manhas said.

'The injured have been taken to two places and the toll could be more as we are awaiting news from other hospitals,' he added.

Panic: Thousands of worshippers tried to run when a railing gave way

Television pictures showed people being carried on stretchers to a hospital, many writhing in pain.

In 2005, about 265 pilgrims were killed in a stampede at a temple in the western state of Maharashtra.

Thousands of worshippers had gathered at the temple in Bilaspur district to pray to a Hindu goddess during an annual, nine-day religious festival.

Most of the worshippers were from the neighbouring state of Punjab. Many had to be stretchered to hospital, writhing in pain.

'There were a lot of people inside and we were trying to fight for space when everyone started falling over,' one female worshipper, Bimala, told reporters.

The chief minister of the state has reportedly offered compensation to the injured, and to the families of the people killed.

Stampedes at temples are not uncommon in India where thousands of people gather to pray during festivals but this is by far the worst death toll this year.

In 2005, about 265 pilgrims were killed in a stampede near a temple in the western state of Maharashtra.