At least eight people, all women, were killed in a crush in a temple in the eastern state of Bihar, Indian media reported on Tuesday.

The Sheetala Mata temple was overcrowded as devotees rushed in to offer prayers on the last Tuesday of the Chaitra month of the Hindu calendar.

In the Hindu religious calendar, several months hold different astrological and cultural significance for devotees. It can influence what people eat, when they marry, auspicious rituals and even agricultural cycles.

Officials told Indian media that the turnout was higher than usual and that an investigation was now being conducted.

Stampedes at religious events and sites are not uncommon, and kill more than 100 people in India every year.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of the dead and announced monetary compensations for their families. “The mishap in Nalanda district, Bihar, is deeply painful. I extend my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. Prayers for the speedy recovery of those injured,” he said in a social media post.

DW