Dozens killed in stampede at religious bonfire festival in Israel
India Today
Dozens of people died in a stampede at a religious bonfire festival in Israel on Friday. Thousands of Orthodox Jews had gathered at the Mount Meron tomb of a sage for annual Lag B'Omer commemorations when the disaster occurred.
Dozens of people were killed in a crush at a religious bonfire festival in Israel on Friday, medics said, in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a "heavy disaster". Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews had gathered at the Mount Meron tomb of the 2nd-century sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai for annual Lag B'Omer commemorations that include all-night prayer and dance. The ecstatic crowds congregated despite warnings by health officials to avoid presenting Covid-19 risks. Witnesses said they realised people had been asphyxiated or trampled when an organiser appealed over a loudhailer for the throng to disperse.More Related News