Wall collapse kills 22 at wedding party in India

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI, India (AA) - At least 22 people lost their lives in northern India when a wall collapsed during a wedding celebration late Wednesday night.

The incident took place in Bharatpur in the state of Rajasthan, some 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the capital New Delhi. Another 26 people were injured in the accident.

“The wall collapsed due to a heavy storm at the marriage venue,” District Police Superintendent Anil Tank told Anadolu Agency.

“The injured were taken to nearby hospitals. We are providing every possible help to those affected."

The incident took place when people were having dinner and they took shelter from the storm near the wall, which fell on them.

Local media reported that many food stalls were set up along the wall for the wedding.

The local government has announced compensation of $800 to each family of a deceased victim and $150 to those seriously injured.

During this period seeing many marriages in the Hindu community, India is also witnessing heat waves in many parts of the country, with temperatures reaching 46C (115F) in some places. Many people have lost their lives due to heat waves in central and northern India.