Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem has sent a message of condolences to Indian state of Kerala Chief Minister V.S Achuthanandan over the tragedy that killed 102 people.

The tragedy, which also injured some 100 others in stampede, occurred at around 8 pm (local time) on Jan. 14 when a jeep ploughed through a crowd of pilgrims who were returning from a temple after a ritual in a narrow trekking path of the forest in Idukki district.

The overturned jeep crushed some people, and more vehicles behind the jeep slipped, and fell on the pilgrims, triggering the stampede./.