The stampede occurred at a bridge near the Ratangarh temple in Datia district, where thousands were headed to offer prayers on the Hindu festival day of Dussehra.
"Panic broke out as crowds were crossing the bridge on the Sindh river to reach the shrine, situated on a hillock over a kilometre away. Seventeen children and 30 women were among the victims," regional police chief DK Arya said.
"Since 10 people are in a critical condition, the death toll is likely to rise to 100," he said in a telephone interview from the scene.
Arya said a group of youths who were tired of waiting spread a rumour that the bridge was on the verge of the collapse, resulting in panic, which led to the stampede.
The 500-metre-long bridge was built about three years ago and was structurally sound, he added. It is almost 7 metres wide.

 Photo: MP: Death toll in temple stampede rises to 112, over 100 injured News (14.10.2013) DATIA, MADHYA PRADESH: The death toll in the temple stampede in Ratangarh in Madhya Pradesh has risen to 112 while more than 100 people have been injured. At least 17 of those dead in the tragedy are children. The stampede took place on the bridge over the Sindh river on Sunday. The police say the rumour of a bridge collapsing sparked the stampede. "A tractor hit the fence of the bridge which caused panic and a rumour spread that the bridge is about to collapse. This is the initial reason cited, it will be clear after a further investigation," said MP Chief Secretary Antony JC Disa. But eyewitnesses are blaming it on a police lathicharge. There were clashes reported between pilgrims and the police after the tragedy, during which one police officer is reported to be injured. "Everybody was going towards the fair, suddenly the police came and said the bridge has broken and asked us to run. There was a huge crowd and the police started lathicharge. It caused panic and the people were killed in a stampede," said an eyewitness. Heart-rending scenes were witnessed as anxious relatives searched for their loved ones from the large number of bodies that lay on the bridge.
Police said there were around 25,000 people on the bridge at the time of the accident. A total of 500,000 people had visited the temple all through Sunday.
Arya denied media reports that the stampede was caused after police used batons to control surging crowds.
Later on Sunday, six policemen were injured by stones pelted by angry devotees who alleged that the police did not act on time to prevent the accident.
"The state government has ordered a probe into the accident. We have completed rescue and relief. All the injured have been moved to hospitals in the Datia district," Arya added.
Stampedes are disturbingly common during religious festivals and in temples across India.
In February, 36 worshippers were killed in a stampede during the Hindu festival of Kumbh Mela in the northern city of Allahabad.
In one of the worst stampedes in the country, more than 220 people died in a stampede at a temple in the northern town of Jodhpur in 2008.
Voice of Russia