Just in: Seven killed, 70 injured after a 'pandal' collapsed due to heavy rain at Ujjain's Kumbh Mela. Early reports say the injured have been taken to hospital.

However, the Ujjain Kumbh Mela authorities have denied that a stampede had caused the deaths.

The Times of India quoted the authorities as saying that a huge tent - built for the mela - fell on the devotees after it collapsed due to poor weather conditions.

Officials assured that security arrangements had been made for the hordes of people visiting the month-long Kumbh mela.

Ujjain Simhastha is a Hindu religious mela held every 12 years in the Ujjain city of Madhya Pradesh. The Simhastha Kumbh is scheduled to be held from April 22-May 21. Ujjain. Over five crore people including seers are expected to visit the holy city.

A woman pilgrim died after being struck by a lightning bolt today as thunderstorm hit the site of the mela.