Akhtari Begum who lost her granddaughter in the school stampede

The state authorities have ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.

Nearly five girls have been killed and 27 others injured in a stampede at a government school in Khajuri Khas , a crowded area of Delhi. Doctors say five of the injured victims are in a critical condition.

This stampede took place when a group of girl students who tried to run down a staircase, jarred into a group of boys going up,Officials said

Earlier reports said the stampede was sparked by rumours that electric current had entered water collected there after heavy rains.However,it now came forth saying that  these deaths happened when students got jammed into a constringed staircase.

One of the students Sanjana Gautam told that”The exams were about to start when suddenly some boys came inside. They pushed us and then we came out. We were coming down the staircase when the stampede occurred,” .

The injured have been rushed to Guru Teg Bahadur hospital.

Police have roped off the area as uneasy parents and local people gathered outside the school. Angry relatives of students said there were only five to six teachers to evacuate the students.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit visited the injured children in the hospital.

The Government has announced compensation of Rs one lakh and Rs 50,000 each respectively to the next of kin of the deceased and the injured.

Dikshit said “Four of the injured are in ICUs in serious conditions, while some are in the trauma centre. Their treatment will be free of cost,”

Medical superintendent, OP Kalra, at the Guru Teg Bahadur hospital, said five of the injured students taken to the hospital were critical.

Mr Kalra said that there were 1,300 to 1,400 students in the school at the time. This stampede occurred on a narrowed staircase in the school building when the girls were asked to evacuate.