Six people died in Mauritius in a fire that broke out during a Hindu pilgrimage.
Seven others were injured in the incident on Sunday and were admitted to hospital for medical attention.
Police say a wooden and bamboo cart carrying effigies of deities caught fire after coming into contact with electric wires.
The pilgrims were walking to Grand Bassin Lake, considered sacred by the island’s Hindu community, ahead of a religious festival on 8 March.
Those who died were aged between 18 to 20 years.
A 16-year-old teenager is among the injured, with a reported serious condition.
Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth, in a statement on national TV, conveyed his deep shock and condolences in the wake of the tragic incident.
This is not the first such occurrence; a similar tragedy unfolded last year in Mare-Longue, resulting in the loss of two lives.
The authorities are now urging all pilgrims to strictly adhere to safety instructions, particularly concerning the dimensions of the kanwars (a structure carried by pilgrims).
