Indian officials say at least 150 Hindu pilgrims have been killed in a stampede near a temple in western Maharashtra state.
The officials say the death toll is expected to be higher, but that so far they have recovered at least 150 bodies.
Authorities say more than 150,000 people were on a pilgrimage to the popular Mandher Devi temple, situated on a hill, some 260 kilometers southeast of Bombay, also known as Mumbai.
Local television quoted the state's chief minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh, as saying the stampede on the narrow, winding path to the top of the hill was probably triggered by a fire, possibly caused by a short-circuit in a power cable.
But local officials say the cause is still being investigated.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.
