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73 killed in stampede at stadium near Manila

Tragedy occurred as people thronged venue of game show

— PHOTO: AP

GRIEF STRICKEN: A man sits amid the bodies of the victims of the stampede in suburban Pasig, east of Manila, on Saturday.

Manila: At least 73 persons were killed and nearly 400 injured on Saturday in a stampede at a stadium near the Philippines capital Manila where hundreds had queued up to watch a popular game show similar to "Kaun Banega Crorepati," in the worst mishap of this kind in the country.

The incident took place at 9 AM local time at Pasig, 15 km from here, when the organisers of the show "Wowowee" announced that all entrances except one would be closed as hundreds of persons had lined up at the stadium to watch it.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who is on a state visit here, condoled the loss of lives in the stampede during talks with his Philippines counterpart Gloria Arroyo.

Mayor of Pasig Vicente Eusebio said the tragedy occurred as the crowd pushed towards the stadium gates thinking they were open. — PTI

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