Ujjain (MP): Tragedy struck at the ongoing Simhastha Kumbh Mela at Ujjain on Thursday when tents erected at the venue collapsed due to strong winds and heavy rain. At least 7 people were killed and several others injured, who were rushed to the district hospital.

Most deaths were reported from a spot in the Mangalnath zone of the town, where a pandal caved in, trapping many devotees.

Simhastha Kumbh Mela is one of the largest Hindu religious congregations organized in an interval of every 12 years in the Ujjain city of Madhya Pradesh. The Simhastha Kumbh is scheduled to be held from April 22-May 21. Lakhs of devotees from across the country have been visiting the holy city since the Mela began.

Strong winds and heavy rainfall swept through the Ujjain city in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday late in the afternoon, as thousands of devotees gathered to take their holy bath on the banks of the famed Kshipra River. The tents erected at the site were collapsed, thus creating a panic.

“Six people have been killed and 40 injured in and around the Mela area,” district collector Kavindra Kiyawat said.

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan arrived at Ujjain early today morning to take a stock of the situation. Terming the incident painful, he announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to injured.

Assistance to next kin of all deceased will be in addition to insurance amount of Rs. 2 lakh each as every pilgrim has been given cover.

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) May 5, 2016

Govt. to bear cost of treatment of all injured. Food grains will be provided to pilgrims in @Simhasth Mela area at convenient places.

— ShivrajSingh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) May 5, 2016

Cabinet Minister Bhupendra Singh, who is in charge of the Simhastha Kumbh said that later in the night, the situation was under control and the devotees, had started taking holy dips again. The second Shahi-Snan is due on May 9.