Over 60 people have died in a crush at a religious gathering in northern India.

According to BBC News, the incident occurred at a satsang in Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh state.

Survivors have described how the disaster unfolded as they tried to leave the event in Mughalgarhi village saying everything was “going fine”, until “all of a sudden I heard screams and before I knew it, people were falling on each other”.

The victims, including a large number of women and some children, are still being identified.

Chief medical officer from the neighbouring district of Etah, Umesh Kumar Tripathi, told reporters the “stampede” had left at least three children dead.