Thirteen people have died after falling into a well during a wedding ceremony in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
Police said many of the victims died instantly from the fall. They were all women or children, according to media reports.
The wedding guests were sat on a metal slab covering the well when it collapsed under their combined weight.
The incident happened on Wednesday evening in the Kushinagar district during a traditional "haldi" ceremony. This is where relatives apply turmeric paste to the face of the bride and groom as a mark of prosperity.
Police officer Akhil Kumar spoke to news agency ANI and explained the incident.
"The incident occurred last night around 8:30 p.m. in Nebua Naurangia, Kushinagar, during a wedding program when some people were sitting on a slab covering a well. The slab broke under their weight," he said.
Other guests attempted to rescue the victims when the slab broke. Eleven were declared dead at the scene, while two others were sent to a hospital where they died of their injuries. The guests attempted to use ladders and ropes to help get the victims out of the well.
At least 10 other people were also injured in the incident. Police said these individuals have been hospitalized but it is unclear what condition they are in.
The names of the deceased have also been released.
Local media named Pooja, 19, Shashi Kala, 15, Shakuntalia, 35, Mamta Devi, 35, Pooja, 20, Pari, 1, Jyoti, 15, Radhika, 16, Sundari, 15, Aarti, 10, Pappi, 20, and Manu, 18 as the victims.
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, offered his condolences in a tweet after hearing of the tragedy.
उत्तर प्रदेश के कुशीनगर में हुआ हादसा हृदयविदारक है। इसमें जिन लोगों को अपनी जान गंवानी पड़ी है, उनके परिजनों के प्रति मैं अपनी गहरी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं। इसके साथ ही घायलों के जल्द से जल्द स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं। स्थानीय प्रशासन हर संभव मदद में जुटा है।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 17, 2022
"The accident in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching," he wrote, according to Google Translate.
"I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in this.
"With this, I wish the injured a speedy recovery. The local administration is involved in all possible help."
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, also offered his condolences in a Twitter post.
जनपद कुशीनगर के ग्राम नौरंगिया स्कूल टोला की एक दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण घटना में हुई ग्रामवासियों की मृत्यु अत्यंत दुःखद है।
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) February 17, 2022
मेरी संवेदनाएं मृतकों के शोक संतप्त परिजनों के साथ हैं।
प्रभु श्री राम से घायलों के शीघ्र स्वास्थ्य लाभ की कामना है।
"The death of the villagers in an unfortunate incident in Naurangiya School Tola [village] of Kushinagar district is very sad," he said, according to Google translate.
"My condolences are with the bereaved families of the deceased. Prabhu Shri Ram is wishing for the speedy recovery of the injured."
The chief minister has directed officials of the district administration to ensure proper treatment to the injured people, according to a state government spokesperson in Lucknow.
