India stampede kills 27

A stampede on the banks of a holy river yesterday killed at least 27 pilgrims in southern India in a tragic beginning to a religious festival season.

The stampede in Rajahmundry, on the border of the twin states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, erupted about two hours after the dawn start of the Maha Pushkaralu festival which sees thousands of people bathe in the Godavari river.

District official H Arun Kumar put the number of injured at 40.