Gangasagar stampede: Narendra Modi mourns loss of lives

The incident left at least six people killed.

"Saddened by the loss of lives caused by a stampede in West Bengal. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased,"PMO India tweeted quoting Modi.

"My prayers with those injured in the stampede in West Bengal. May they recover quickly," he said.

"PM approved ex-gratia from PMNRF, of Rs 2 lakh for next of kin of those deceased & Rs. 50,000 for those injured in the stampede in WB," read a tweet posted by PMO India.

At least six devotees were killed and several others were injured in a stampede at Gangasagar island, barely 120 kilometres from state capital Kolkata, on Sunday evening, officials said.

According to reports, the incident took place at around 5 pm. at Kachuberia jetty in the Sagar island.

"Few devotees became unconscious due to suffocation at Kachuberia jetty and were rushed to a temporary health centre nearby, where six of them died due to heart attack," state Sundarbands Development Minister Manturam Pakhira told IBNS.

"All six dead were aged women and three of them were from Uttar Pradesh," the minister added.

Describing the incident, West Bengal Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Subrata Mukherjee told IBNS, "A large number of people were in rush at Kachuberia jetty number 5 when a ferry arrived there and few persons fell senseless due to suffocation."

According to sources, at least seven others were injured or fell sick due to the incident and are being treated in nearby hospitals.

The state government, however, has announced a compensation of 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased.

Over 15 lakh worshipers joined the Gangasagar fair this year, according to reports.