Meerut, July 30 -- A religious gathering to mark Guru Purnima turned tragic in Budaun district on Wednesday when a large branch of a peepal tree collapsed onto women participating in a village ceremony, killing two women and injuring three others. The incident occurred in Lalei village under the Kunwargaon police station area during an annual havan and bhajan-kirtan organized at the Gama Devi Temple. According to police, around 20-25 women had assembled beneath the peepal tree on Wednesday afternoon to offer prayers and sing devotional songs when the accident took place. Officials said a large branch of the tree suddenly broke off and fell on the devotees. Usha, 40, wife of Ramautar, died on the spot after being trapped beneath the fallen branch. The remaining injured women were immediately taken to the district hospital. Doctors declared Ameer Bano, 45, wife of Tasabbar, dead on arrival. According to local residents, Ameer Bano was standing nearby watching the worship ceremony when the branch fell. The three injured women-Hardedi, Shyama Devi and Ramlali-are undergoing treatment at the district hospital. Kunwargaon SHO Rajesh Kaushik said police received information about the incident through Police Response Vehicle (PRV) at around 3:15 p.m. He said a havan and devotional singing were underway beneath the peepal tree in the temple premises when monkeys began jumping on one of the branches, causing it to snap. Police inquiries at the scene revealed that the Guru Purnima ceremony is an annual tradition at the Gama Devi Temple, with villagers organizing a havan and special prayers every year. Villagers said an attempt had been made last year to remove it by tying a rope around the branch and pulling it with a tractor, but it did not break and was left hanging. Despite surviving several storms over the past year, the weakened branch eventually gave way on Wednesday, reportedly after repeated movement by monkeys....