A wall crashed down on an Indian wedding party killing at least 25 people, including four children, police said on Thursday.
Rescuers have described the 'horrific' scene in which a 13-foot concrete wall came down during a storm, on guests who had sought protection from the thundering rain.
"We worked through the night," one of the rescue workers told India TV news network.
Advert
"We tried to rescue as many people as possible, the scene was horrific."
Police have launched an investigation and detained one banquet hall manager for 'death by negligence'.
"We have registered a case and taken one of the managers of the banquet hall into custody," district magistrate Narendra Kumar Gupta told reporters.
Advert
"We will investigate if the hall owners had a valid licence. In case they did not have a licence, appropriate action will be taken against them."
"As per the official figures, 23 people including 11 men, eight women and four children were killed. The number of injured stands at 28," Alok Vashishth, the inspector general of police, told the Times of India.
He added: "The building collapsed due to [a] dust storm and people were stuck in debris. Some locals intimated about the incident and a rescue team rushed to the spot."
Advert
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the families of the victims will receive compensation of 200,000 rupees (£2,400), with 50,000 rupees (£600) going to the 'seriously injured'.
He said the tragic incident had pained him 'beyond words'.
In a tweet, he wrote: "My thoughts are with the families of the deceased. I hope the injured recover soon."
It's not the first instance of tragedy at an Indian wedding, which can often go on for days.
Image: PA
Advert
In 2014, a floating platform from the end of a crane carrying the bride collapsed onto a wedding reception, killing one guest.
More problems have arisen from celebratory gunfire than freak accidents, especially in rural north India where gun ownership is the norm.
Earlier this month, a 12-year-old boy of gunshot wounds he'd sustained at a northern Uttar Pradesh state wedding.
Last year, at least three people died in similar circumstances.
Advert
Sources: Yahoo News, Times of India
Topics: India
