60 people were killed and 50 injured in a stampede at a temple in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

"Sixty bodies had been recovered and more could have been killed in the tragedy in Mangarh area of Pratapgarh district's Kunda town, about 180 km from here," said Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Brij Lal.

Some of the injured were reported to be in critical condition. About 10,000 people were in attendance without proper arrangements.

The incident took place when a free lunch, or a bhandara, hosted by Kripaluji Maharaj was taking place, a government official added. The stampede broke out when a temporary tin shed caved in and a gate leading to the ashram collapsed.

However, Lal clarified that the Pratapgarh accident occurred due to the temple's gate collapse and not due to stampede.

"During the event the temple's concrete gate collapsed leaving 20 people dead and around 25 people injured. The accident did not have anything to do with stampede," Lal said.