As many as 13 women and children died as they accidentally fell into a deep well while they were attending a wedding at a village in Kushinagar district in Uttar Pradesh's eastern part last night.

According to officials, women and children at the wedding were sitting on a slab that had been placed by the hosts on the old well. The slab collapsed under their weight and those sitting on top of it fell into the well. They were rushed to the hospital, where 13 people were declared dead, while two have been seriously injured in the incident.

Visuals from the hospital showed relatives in their wedding clothes mourning their loved ones in a sudden turn of events that turned a happy occasion into a tragedy.

"We have received information that 11 people have died and two others have been seriously injured after they accidentally fell into a well. This happened during a wedding programme where some people were sitting on a slab of a well which collapsed due to the heavy load."

The district magistrate said a compensation of  Rs 4 lakh would be paid to the family of each person killed in the incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his condolence message, described the incident as "heart-rending", and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.