8 people killed in stampede at Pak dargah

At least eight persons were killed in a stampede at a dargah in Pakistan's southern Sindh province today, officials said.

At least eight persons were killed in a stampede at a dargah in Pakistan's southern Sindh province on Monday, officials said.

The stampede occurred at the dargah in Pir Jo Goth near Khairpur shortly after spiritual leader Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi, the Pir of Pagara, made a public appearance.

Jan Mohammad Mangrio, the head of the shrine's administration, said the tragedy occurred when thousands of "Hurs", the followers of Pir of Pagara, were leaving the shrine after greeting their spiritual leader.

"It was very hot and humid. Most of the deaths were caused by suffocation in the wake of the sudden stampede. Some persons sustained serious injuries after they were trampled by the crowd," Mangrio said.

The injured were taken to nearby hospitals.