Lucknow: During a 'haldi' ritual in a village in Nibua Naurangiya in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar late Wednesday evening, eleven women and girls reportedly died and five others were injured when they fell into a well by accident.

When the tragedy occurred, the victims were praying by the well. Two women are among the injured, and their condition is critical.

The incident was reported to the Kushinagar Superintendent of Police in the evening, according to Sachindra Patel. The women had gathered beside the well for an occasion when the slab that had been supporting it suddenly crumbled, allowing the victims to fall inside. Locals ran after hearing screaming and rescued the victims. Eleven people perished, while the remaining five are seeking treatment, according to Patel. The fatalities include relatives and neighbours of the wedding organisers' family.

Yogi Aditya Nath, the chief minister, has asked the Kushinagar district government to extend all possible assistance to the victims. The kin of the dead would receive an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh, according to DM Kushinagar.

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