Seven people were killed and around 90 injured when heavy rain accompanied by lightning and squall flattened and uprooted makeshifts tents of pilgrims in and around the site of Simhastha Kumbh Mela here on Thursday.
Ujjain Divisional Commissioner Ravindra Pastaur told PTI that prima facie, the casualties resulted due to collapse of tents and some gates erected at the Kumbh area.
Among the dead is a woman pilgrim who was killed in Undasa area when lightning struck her.
Terming the incident as painful, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased persons and Rs. 50,000 to the seriously injured and Rs. 25,000 to those with minor injuries, an official spokesman said.
The slushy mela ground was making the rescue operation difficult.
