Footwear of pilgrims lie scattered on the ground after the stampede in Haridwar on Tuesday. (AFP)

Haridwar, Nov. 8 (PTI): Around 16 people were killed over 30 injured in a stampede today during a religious ceremony attended by thousands near the famous ‘Har Ki Pauri’ ghat on the banks of the river Ganga.

The stampede broke out when people tried to enter the ‘yajnashala’ (place of sacred fire ceremony) at Chandidweep Ghat for the birth centenary celebrations of acharya Pandit Shriram Sharma, a saint-scholar-philosopher and the founder of Shantikunj Ashram.

Sub-divisional magistrate Harbir Singh said: “It appears that suffocation in the area led to the stampede but the exact cause will only come out after an inquiry.”

District magistrate Senthil Pandian ordered a magisterial probe into the incident.

Eyewitnesses said the stampede occurred at around 10.30am when a few people tripped while those behind continued to push forward.

The situation went out of control and people ran helter-skelter with women and children falling on the ground.

Uttrakhand chief minister B.C. Khanduri announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the kith and kin of each of the victims.

Shantikunj Ashram also announced a compensation of an identical amount.

District authorities ordered the organisers of the celebrations to call off the five-day event, which was due to end on Thursday.

Police officials blamed the Shantikunj Ashram authorities for not involving the police and district administration in the management of the ceremony.