NEW DELHI, Feb 17, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - Thirteen women and girls died after
accidentally falling down a well during marriage celebrations in northern
India, police said Thursday.

  The victims were sitting on an iron slab covering the well on Wednesday
when it gave way, senior police officer Akhil Kumar told reporters in
Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh state.

  District magistrate S. Rajalingam said the well was old and could not take
the weight of those sitting on the covering.

  "The victims fell down and were crushed under the debris," he said.

  The women and children had gathered to take part in a marriage ritual in
their village.

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the accident was "heart-wrenching".

  "The local administration is involved in all possible help," he tweeted.

  Indian weddings are often grand affairs with huge numbers of guests and
lavish ceremonies that run for several days.

  In 2017, 24 wedding revellers were killed in the northwestern state of
Rajasthan when a wall crashed down on them during a storm.