INTERNATIONAL
13 wedding guests perish inside well
At least 13 people, including a one-year-old child, have died after falling into a well during a wedding ceremony in northern India.�
CNN reports that the victims — all of whom were women and children — were sitting on a slab covering the well when it gave way and collapsed.
One other person was injured in the incident, according police account.
“This is an unfortunate incident during a wedding ceremony,” said a senior police official Sachindra Patel.
The wedding guests were attending the ‘haldi’ ceremony, a Hindu tradition where turmeric is applied to the bride and groom’s face for good luck.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the deaths “heart-wrenching” in a post on Twitter on Thursday.
“I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives,” he said “I wish the injured a speedy recovery. The local administration will help in every possible way.”
Modi announced a compensation of $2,662 to each of the victims’ families, and $665 to the injured.
