Bhubaneswar, May 3 -- At least 12 people were injured on Saturday night after a wall collapsed during a religious gathering in Bili village under the Bonai area of Odisha's Sundargarh district, officials said.

The incident occurred while an "Ashtaprahari" - a round-the-clock religious ritual - was underway. According to reports, the wall suddenly gave way amid Kalbaisakhi rains, triggering panic among those present at the spot.

Locals said the wall was very old and had weakened after being soaked in rainwater. Despite prior warnings during the puja not to sit close to the structure, several people continued to remain near it when the collapse occurred.

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