Eight people, including a sadhu and three women, were killed and around 90 others injured when heavy rainstorm uprooted makeshift tents at Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Ujjain on Thursday, said Ujjain Divisional Commissioner Ravindra Pastaur.
Prima facie, the casualties resulted due to collapse of tents and some gates erected at the Kumbh area, he said.
A third of the tents put up by pilgrims were blown away in the squall, police said. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as some people are suspected to be trapped under the collapsed tents.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted to express sorrow over the tragedy and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced an ex-gratia of Rs5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs50,000 to seriously injured and Rs25,000 to the minor injured.
Chouhan will visit Ujjain on Friday to take stock of the situation. The torrential rain made large parts of the Mela ground slushy, making the rescue operation difficult. According to eyewitnesses, a big drainage suffered a breach on Ramghat on the banks of the Kshipra river as a result of which filthy water is gushing into the river.
Over 25 lakh people are expected to take a holy bath on the occasion of second Shahi snan on May 9.