63 people were killed and many others injured in a stampede in an ashram here.

The stampede took place after the gate of Kripalu Maharaj's ashram, 60 kms from here, collapsed during distribution of food,

The devotees were being given food besides utensils on the occasion of the "shradh" of the wife of Kripalu Maharaj.

About 10,000 people had gathered at the ashram in Mangarh area under Kunda police station area when the incident occurred.

The injured have been rushed to hospitals in Pratapgarh and Allahabad,