Expressing regret over the tragedy, she ordered an enquiry by the deputy commissioner and promised strict action. The report will be submitted in 2-3 days.

The chief minister also announced payment of Rs.100,000 each to the next-of-kin of those killed and Rs.50,000 to those seriously injured.

Dikshit directed Education Director Chandra Bhushan Kumar to post two deputy directors at the GTB Hospital to look after all medical arrangements of the injured.

Reacting to the incident, leader of opposition in Delhi assembly V.K. Malhotra said: 'A proper enquiry should be conducted into the incident and the government should also look at other schools.'

Central Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal said: 'The school stampede is a tragedy. Even though it is a state system, it is completely unacceptable. We need to have a system where such tragedies would not happen in future. We express our condolences to the bereaved families.'

Meanwhile, the police have tightened security and have deployed extra men outside the school and at GTB Hospital.

'The area around the school has been cordoned off to avoid any law and order problem in the area,' the police officer added.

Parents and relatives of the injured children thronged the hospital. Some of the parents fell unconscious while anxiously waiting for the news of their children's well being.

But the parents were not allowed inside the hospital.

'I have the identity card of my daughter who studies in this school but the police are not letting me in. What should I do, I have not got any news about her well being,' said a grieving father, standing outside the hospital.

No official from the school administration was available for comment. Relatives of the students and local residents gathered in front of the school to protest the 'negligence on the part of the administration'.

They threw stones, shouted slogans and tried to block the road in front of the school.