At least 35 people have been killed and 16 others injured after the roof of a stepwell collapsed at the Hindu temple in Madhya Pradesh as the rescue operations are still underway.
The incident occurred in Madhya Pradesh state as devotees gathered at a temple in Indore to celebrate the Hindu festival of Ram Navami on Thursday.
“We have rescued 18 people, 35 have been found dead and 16 are injured,” Ilayaraja T, a top local government official, told the Reuters news agency on Friday.
At least 75 armies and rescue personnel worked through the day to remove debris, using ropes and ladders to pull out people who had fallen into the well, local media reported.
Television footage showed emergency workers using ropes and ladders to reach those trapped in the well.
Temples across India were brimming with devotees on the occasion of Ram Navami, the birthday of the Hindu deity Ram.