The police on Thursday began investigation into the stampede at the Mandhardevi temple in Wai and the subsequent chaos, which left 258 people dead, by recording the statements of witnesses and taking a map of the site.

Satara District Superintendent of Police C G Kumbhar told reporters that a case under Section 304 (culpabale homicide not amounting to murder) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code had been registered.

• Stampede toll 258; probe ordered | 'The dead, injured were lying in heaps'

Asked if outsiders were involved in the arson, looting and attacks on policemen after the stampede, Kumbhar said it was very difficult to distinguish outsiders from locals among the crowd of over a lakh.

He brushed aside suggestions that the police bandobast was insufficient.

• There were two stampedes | When death visited temple

Asked about the detention of a suspect, he said the man from Mumbai was allowed to go after investigating if he or his family members had any criminal record.