LUCKNOW: 19 people were killed and 50 others harmed in a stampede at Rajghat bridge between Varanasi and Chandauli where a huge number of people had assembled for a religious occasion on Saturday evening.

The incident occurred when a huge number of devotees of religious leader Jai Gurudev were headed to Domri town on the banks of Ganga to participate in the two-day camp, police said.

Five of the injured are stated to be in a serious condition, district magistrate Chandauli, Kumar Prashant said.
Senior officials of police and administration have rushed to the spot to carry out relief and rescue measures.

UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakhs each for kin of those killed in the stampede and Rs 50,000 each for the critically injured.