At least 35 people have died in a well after a structure built over it collapsed at a temple in central India.

Worshippers were gathering at the temple in the city of Indore in Madhya Pradesh state to celebrate the Hindu festival of Ram Navami, officials said.

The well had not been used for several years and had been covered by the structure which is thought to have caved in because of the weight of the crowd.

“We have rescued 18 people, 35 have been found dead and 16 are injured,” a top local government official told Reuters news agency.

At least 75 army and rescue personnel worked through the day to remove debris, using ropes and ladders to pull out people who had fallen into the well, local media reported.