At least 60 people have died and dozens injured in a stampede at a religious event in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, authorities confirmed.

The tragic incident occurred in a village in Hathras district, approximately 200km southeast of the national capital New Delhi.

Government official Ashish Kumar informed The Associated Press that the mortuaries in the district had received at least 60 bodies.

There are fears that the death toll could rise, with Manish Chikara, a district police spokesperson, stating to Reuters news agency that the number might increase.

The stampede took place after attendees hurriedly tried to exit following the conclusion of the event involving a religious leader named Bhole Baba, according to local media reports.

Social media videos, although unverified, depicted bodies strewn outside a local hospital. The authenticity of these videos could not be immediately verified by Al Jazeera.

Authorities in Hathras reported that over 150 injured individuals were admitted to hospitals following the tragedy.

Police officer Rajesh Singh speculated that overcrowding may have contributed to the stampede. Initial estimates suggested that more than 15,000 people were present at the event, despite the permission being granted for only 5,000 attendees.

An eyewitness named Jyoti shared her account, mentioning the chaotic stampede that ensued as the event concluded, with people falling on each other in the rush to leave.

State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called for an investigation into the incident and directed officials to expedite relief and rescue operations while providing proper medical care to the injured.

Tragic incidents like stampedes are not uncommon in India during religious festivals, where large crowds gather in confined spaces with limited safety measures in place.