The Bihar government has ordered an inquiry by the state home secretary into the killing of at least 18 people including eight children and 10 women in a stampede during Chhath festival in Patna on Monday evening, fficials said.

"Chief minister Nitish Kumar has asked the home secretary Amir Subhani to inquire into the incident and announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the victims," an official in chief minister office said.