An elderly woman lost her life at the heavily-crowded Dasaswamedh ghat in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh [ Images ], on Wednesday morning, triggering a stampede that left 13 others injured in the holy city where thousands had gathered on the occasion of solar eclipse.

District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Upadhaya said an 80-year-old woman collapsed due to the heavy rush of devotees at the ghat while another woman fainted following which people panicked and started running helter-skelter.

In the melee, thirteen people were injured, police said. An estimated 60,000-70,000 people had gathered at the ghat to take the dip, they said.

The stampede occurred due to the heavy rush of pilgrims at the ghat, DIG P C Meena said.

The injured have been rushed to hospitals in the area.