New Delhi - At least 40 worshippers were killed and 150 injured after a stampede at a Hindu temple in India's north-western state of Rajasthan on Tuesday, media reports said.

The stampede occurred at the Chamunda temple situated atop a hillock in the Mehrangarh area near Jodhpur city, 350 kilometres west of the state capital Jaipur, the NDTV network reported.

Hyderabad, Sept. 30: One of India's prominent Muslim leaders and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) president Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi died here on Monday night after a prolonged illness. He was 76.

Owaisi was admitted to a private hospital on September 13 with breathing problems and had been on a ventilator since then. He breathed his last at around 9 p. m. at his residence in Hyderguda, a few hours after he was shifted from hospital, his son and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said.

He is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter.

New Delhi, Sept 30: Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar will address a meeting of the National Council of Older Persons (NCOP) here today.

The agenda for the NCOP meeting includes discussion on the progress on the implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and the revised grant-in aid scheme of Integrated Programme for Older Persons.

New Delhi, Sept.

Kolkata, Sept 29 : Thousands of Hindus gathered on the banks of the Ganges river in Kolkata and prayed for the salvation of their ancestors on the occasion of ''Mahalya'' on Monday.

According to the Hindu almanac, ''Mahalaya'' marks the conclusion of ''Piter Paksha'', the fortnight during which people hold special religious rituals for the deceased kin particularly ancestors and heralds ''Devi Paksha'' or the fortnight-long festival of Hindu goddess Durga.

Several devouts thronged the river bank to perform religious rituals, make offerings to their ancestors and to take a holy dip.

New Delhi, Sept 29: Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov met his Indian counterpart A K Antony at South Block today.

Earlier, Serdyukov laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate. After paying homage, Serdyukov was presented a Guard of Honour at South Block by the Indian armed forces.