At least two people were killed and many were injured in a stampede triggered after monkeys caused crowds to panic by jumping on and breaking a live wire outside a temple in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
The group of monkeys jumped onto an electric wire outside the Ausaneshwar Mahadev Temple in the Barabanki region, causing it to snap and fall on a shed, triggering panic among worshippers who tried to flee the area.
Nineteen people were electrocuted, while more than two dozen others were injured in the ensuring stampede-like incident, district magistrate Shashank Tripathi said.
The incident occurred around 2 am (2030 GMT Sunday), as groups of worshippers started to gather at the temple for their Monday offerings during the sacred Hindu month of Shravan.
When the monkeys hurled themselves on the wire, causing it to snap, an electric current began to flow through three tin sheds at the temple complex, Tripathi added.
