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Toll in Pak stampede rises to 44

The death toll in the stampede at a pilgrim centre at Pakpattan in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province has risen to 44 with 70 people still listed missing, officials said on Monday.

Forty-four people have so far been confirmed dead and 23 others have been admitted to hospitals with injuries, the local media quoted officials as saying.

Of the dead, 28 have been identified.

The stampede broke out on March 31 night when the organisers delayed the opening of a narrow gate to a shrine of Muslim saint Farid Ganj-e-Shakar, The Dawn said.

The delay occurred due to squabbles between the authorities and the shrine officials over the remuneration paid to the caretaker of the pilgrim centre, it said.

The provincial government has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

PTI

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