PM Modi mourns loss of lives in Jharkhand stampede

"Pained at loss of lives due to the stampede in Jharkhand. My thoughts & prayers are with the families of the deceased in this hour of grief," Modi tweeted.

"I pray that the injured recover quickly. I spoke to CM Raghubar Das ji on the incident," he said.

The Centre is rushing Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel to Deoghar in Jharkhand for better crowd management after 11 people died in a stampede on Monday morning.

Making a statement in Lok Sabha on the stampede, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said he spoke to Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das, who requested for additional RAF personnel.

Singh said two RAF companies  personnel) are being sent to Deoghar for better crowd and security management.

The Home Minister said the Jharkhand Chief Minister informed him that 11 people have lost their lives.

He said Rs. two lakh will be given to the families of each deceased as compensation while the injured will be given Rs 50,000.

The stampede took place early in the morning close to a temple of Goddess Durga, where thousands had lined up for a ritual.

Reports quoted the police as saying that the crowd swelled to over one lakh.

At 5 am devotees that the temple gates were finally opening and started jumping the queue. This led to chaos and some of those fell got trampled by others.

Chief Minister Raghubar Das has ordered an inquiry and announced compensation.

Thousands of devotees flock to the area every year in August to offer holy water from the river Ganga to Lord Shiva at the town's famous Baidyanath temple.