At least seven people have been killed and five injured when a tree fell in the vicinity of a Hindu temple in the Indian state of Maharashtra (west) due to the strong winds caused by storms that have hit the area in recent days.
The event took place on Sunday during a religious ceremony in front of a temple in the town of Akola, when a large tree fell on a hut, according to the Indian television channel NDTV.
The Indian police said that between 35 and 40 people were trapped, seven of whom died. Rescue services were sent to the area to try to remove the tree trunk in order to locate the victims.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that »it is painful to report that some devotees have died due to a tree falling on a hut». »I pay my humble respects to them,» he said, as reported by the Indian news agency INA.
He also confirmed that the chief minister of the state, Eknath Shinde, »has decided to give financial assistance to the relatives of the deceased through the Assistance Fund of his office and the funds of the government of Maharashtra».
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
