Bad weather was partly to blame for the crush that occurred at the gate of the Dera Sacha Sauda commune in the northern India state of Haryana around midnight, authorities said.

About 60,000 people had assembled at the institution in the Sirsa district for a ceremony, said district commissioner Yudhbir Singh Khayalia.

The incident happened when the congregation was walking on a road leading to the spiritual retreat, a spokesman said.

Deadly stampedes have occurred at large religious events in India. Many of them have been blamed on facilities that could not handle the large crowds that gathered.

Just last month, 63 people were killed after a stampede broke out at a temple offering free food in the northern India state of Uttar Pradesh.