More than 50 people have been killed in a stampede at a religious gathering in northern India, authorities said.
The incident took place during a satsang (a Hindu religious event) in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh state.
“Doctors have told me the figure is around 50-60 deaths,” said Hathras District Magistrate Ashish Kumar.
The victims, including more than 20 women, are still being identified.
Mr Kumar said the stampede occurred as people were leaving the venue at the end of the event. He added that a high-level committee had been formed to probe the incident.
“The main objective of the administration is to provide all possible assistance to the injured and the relatives of the deceased,” he said.
The crowd had gathered for an event celebrating Hindu deity Shiva in the village of Mughalgarhi.
A video shared by news agency PTI shows the injured being taken to hospital for treatment.
“The postmortem procedure is underway and the matter is under investigation,” said Satya Prakash, an official from neighbouring Etah district.
Distressing images from the scene of the accident are circulating online.
Some videos show injured people being transported to hospitals in pick-up trucks, tuk-tuks and even motorbikes. One video seen by the BBC shows several bodies dumped at the entrance to a local hospital as relatives scream for help.
Accidents are regularly reported at religious events in India, as huge crowds gather in tight spaces with little regard for safety measures.
In 2018, around 60 people were killed after a train hit in a crowd attending Dusshera celebrations, a Hindu festival.
In 2013, a stampede at a Hindu festival in the central state of Madhya Pradesh left 115 people dead.
Additional reporting by Abhishek Mathur in Hathras
