26 dead after wall of wedding hall collapses in India

26 people, including four children, were killed and 28 injured when a wall of a wedding hall collapsed during a heavy storm in Bharatpur district of northern Indian state Rajasthan on Wednesday night, police said. A wedding was going on in the hall when the storm hit the area, police said.

People took shelter under a shed attached with a wall which collapsed suddenly, leaving 26 dead, Inspector General of Police Alok Vashishtha told PTI. He said the entire structure of the wall and the shed collapsed and they got trapped.

Superintendent of Police Anil Tank said the dead included 11 men, seven women and four children. He said the wall was nearly 90-foot-long and 12-13 feet in height.

Several food stalls were set up adjoining the wall. A tin shed was also attached to a portion of the wall.

"The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals immediately and treatment was administered. One injured has been referred for SMS Hospital in Jaipur,` he said.

The weather suddenly changed and heavy winds started blowing tonight which led to the incident at Sewar Road. The bodies have been shifted to a mortuary and postmortem will be conducted today, police sources said.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje condoled the deaths and gave necessary instructions to officers concerned for proper treatment of the injured.