VOA标准英语10月-Nearly 150 Die in India Temple Stampede

Nearly 150 people have been killed and scores of others injured in a massive¹ stampede at a Hindu temple in the western Indian state, Rajasthan. From New Delhi, Anjana Pasricha reports Tuesday's stampede is the latest in a series of similar incidents that have taken place in different parts of the country.
　

Volunteers carry a stampede victim in Jodhpur, India, 30 Sep 2008

The thousands of devotees who had gathered at Chamunda Devi temple in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, at dawn Tuesday to offer prayers were hoping to start a nine-day Hindu festival on an auspicious² note.

But, for many families, the festival called "Navratri" turned into tragedy, as hundreds of worshippers were crushed in a huge stampede. Many were killed, others were injured.

Television footage showed a child crying for his father and devotees and relatives carrying the dead and the injured to rescue vehicles.

Officials say the stampede occurred after some people slipped on a steep path leading to the temple. The temple is located inside a historic³ 15th Century hilltop fort⁴.

Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria says there was a massive crowd at the site. He says the pressure of the crowd on top of the hill caused people waiting below on the sloping path, to slip. He says this led to a massive crush, as people kept falling, one after another.

Police Inspector⁵ General of Rajasthan Rajiv Dasoth says authorities worked quickly to help the devotees.

"Within one hour, from that hill, very steep hill, all the injured have been evacuated⁶ to different hospitals," he said. "And, they are being treated and they are being taken care of."

Indian authorities have been criticized for poor crowd control at religious places, which attract massive crowds during festivals. In the past, similar stampedes at temples have claimed hundreds of lives.

Three other temple stampedes have been reported from different parts of the country, this year. The most deadly occurred last month, when a stampede outside a temple - also located on a hilltop - led to the death of 145 pilgrims⁷ in Himachal Pradesh State.

1 massive   

adj.巨大的，大规模的，大量的，大范围的

参考例句：

• A massive sea search has failed to find any survivors.经过大规模的海上搜救仍未找到幸存者。
• He drank a massive amount of alcohol.他喝了大量的烈酒。

2 auspicious   

adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的

参考例句：

• The publication of my first book was an auspicious beginning of my career.我的第一本书的出版是我事业吉祥的开始。
• With favorable weather conditions it was an auspicious moment to set sail.风和日丽，正是扬帆出海的黄道吉日。

3 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。

4 fort   

n.要塞，堡垒，碉堡

参考例句：

• The fort can not be defended against an air attack.这座要塞遭到空袭时无法防御。
• No one can get into the fort without a pass.没有通行证，任何人不得进入要塞。

5 inspector   

n.检查员，监察员，视察员

参考例句：

• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
• The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

6 evacuated   

撤退者的

参考例句：

• Police evacuated nearby buildings. 警方已将附近大楼的居民疏散。
• The fireman evacuated the guests from the burning hotel. 消防队员把客人们从燃烧着的旅馆中撤出来。

7 pilgrims   

香客，朝圣者( pilgrim的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Muslim pilgrims on their way to Mecca 前往麦加的穆斯林朝圣者
• Many pilgrims knelt piously at the shrine. 许多朝圣者心虔意诚地在神殿跪拜。