Woman dies due to suffocation in Mayawati's rally in Lucknow, 22 other unwell

LUCKNOW: Two women were today killed and at least 12 people injured in a stampede after a massive rally by BSP chief Mayawati at the Kanshi Ram Smarak Maidan. "A few people coming down the stairs at one of the two gates lost balance and fell on each other. Shanti Devi (68) of Bijnore and another unidentified woman were killed in the incident due to suffocation," police said. Rumours of a live power line having snapped triggered the stampede. The injured have been rushed to a local hospital, a BSP spokesperson said. Party's state unit chief Ram Achal Rajbhar, however, said the women died due to humidity and heat. The BSP workers had gathered in large numbers at the ground on party founder Kanshi Ram's 10th death anniversary. In 2002, at least 12 party workers were killed and 22 injured at the Charbagh Railway station after a BSP rally in Lucknow.