18 people killed in a stampede near Malabar Hill in Mumbai

Mumbai: At least 18 people were killed and nearly 60 injured in a stampede that broke out in the early hours of Saturday near the Malabar Hill residence of Dawoodi Bohra spiritual leader Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, who died on Friday morning.

Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh told reporters, "The incident is very unfortunate. We have deployed extra forces here. We didn't expect this huge crowd."

Zainulabedeen Zainuddin, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin's nephew told NDTV, "Crowds thronged here. We have our own system of security as well. I would say it was a controlled and managed chaos rather than anything else."

The police say the number of devotees who turned up were at least three times than what was expected. As the gates closed at 1:30 am, people rushed towards the entrance. Those who were in front were trapped and died of suffocation. Around 60 people, who suffered injuries, were treated and discharged, while another three are still in hospital.

But soon after the focus shifted to the funeral which was held in the presence of a sea of people who converged from all over the world. Dr Syedna was laid to rest right beside the grave of his father.

Zainulabedeen Zainuddin, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin's nephew told NDTV, "When the news came it spread like wild fire and people from all over the world tried to get here. When I came here I saw people who had come from Europe and London. People came from other parts of Europe, Africa and the Middle East. People came from the Far East and some came from the US as well."

Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohra community, died after a cardiac arrest on Friday. He was 102. He was credited with transforming the community. Dr Syedna's son, Syedna Mohammed Saifuddin has succeeded him as the leader of the community.