The tragedy, which also injured some 100 others in stampede, occurred at around 8 pm (local time) on January 14 when a jeep ploughed through a crowd of pilgrims who were returning from a temple after a ritual in a narrow trekking path of the forest in Idukki district.

The overturned jeep crushed some people, and more vehicles behind the jeep slipped, and fell on the pilgrims, triggering the stampede.