6 pilgrims killed, 40 injured in thunderstorm at Kumbh Mela in Ujjain

Six persons were killed and around 40 others injured on Thursday evening when heavy rain accompanied by lightning and squall wreaked havoc at the site of the ongoing Simhatha Kumbh Mela here, flattening and uprooting pilgrims' tents.

"Six people have been killed and 40 injured in and around the Mela area," district collector Kavindra Kiyawat said. The second Shahi-Snan is due on May 9.

A woman pilgrim was killed in Undasa area when lightning struck her, Superintendent of police Manohar Verma said.

Nearly a third of the tents put by the pilgrims were blown off in the squall, another police official B S Chauhan said, adding it will take at least a week to erect them again.

Rescuers were clearing the collapsed tents and pulling out the people trapped under them.

The rain made large parts of the Mela ground slushy, making the rescue operation difficult. Authorities have cut off the electricity supply to the area as a precautionary measure.

Madhya Pradesh government announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for families of deceased and Rs 50,000 each for injured people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the loss of lives at the ongoing Simhatha Kumbh Mela and hoped for the early recovery of those injured.

"Anguished over the loss of lives at the Kumbh due to heavy rains. May Almighty give strength to the bereaved families to overcome the grief," he tweeted.

"I hope the injured recover quickly. I pray for the safety & well-being of all saints, pilgrims and tourists at the Kumbh," Modi said in another tweet.