At least 7 devotees have died and many more have been injured in a stampede at Kachuberia during Gangasagar fair in West Bengal. The death toll is likely to rise.

The incident occurred while the devotees were trying to board a launch at the Kachuberia ghats. The stampede occurred around 5pm at jetty number 5 of Kachuberia ghats.

Three of the 7 devotees who have died at Gangasagar are from Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal's panchayat and rural development minister Subrata Mukherjee has said.

"The rush to get on the last launch caused the accident," the minister said, when asked about the stampede at Kachuberia during Gangasagar fair in West Bengal.

While the state government announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the stampede victims, Prime Minister of India sanctioned Rs 2 lakh for next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

On Saturday, at least 16 lakh pilgrims took the holy dip at Gangasagar on the occasion of Makar Sankranti and offered puja at the Kapil Muni temple.

Six years ago, seven pilgrims were killed and nine injured, four of them seriously, when a similar stampede broke out at the Gangasagar mela.

In 2010, around four lakh pilgrims had gathered to take a holy dip at the confluence of Ganga and the Bay of Bengal in Gangasagar islands on the occasion of 'Makar Sankranti' when the stampede took place.

Lakhs of pilgrims gather at Gangasagar every year on Makar Sankranti to take a holy dip in the Ganges before it merges with the Bay of Bengal.

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