A truck crash at a Hindu religious gathering in central India has killed 15 people and injured at least 28 others, prompting an investigation into how the vehicle entered an area reportedly restricted to heavy traffic.

The Independent reported that the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday outside the Sheetla Mata temple in Gwalior district, Madhya Pradesh, where devotees had gathered for the Navratri festival. The heavily loaded truck struck worshippers and roadside stalls before crashing into the temple’s entrance gate, reportedly bringing down part of the temple wall.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the truck had entered a prohibited zone and confirmed that an investigation had been launched. The state government announced compensation of 400,000 rupees for each bereaved family and 50,000 rupees for every injured victim.

The temple’s management committee called for a special investigation into the incident, raising concerns about a possible deliberate attack and questioning how a heavy vehicle gained access to the restricted area. The Independent, citing the Times of India, reported that the committee had raised the possibility of a “terror attack”. Indian President Droupadi Murmu also expressed condolences to the victims’ families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The Gwalior incident came a day after a stampede at Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata, West Bengal, killed 19 people and injured more than two dozen others. Police said the crush occurred on Saturday night when worshippers gathered near a festival pavilion reportedly rushed for shelter as rain began, causing some people to fall and triggering a stampede.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that a special investigation team, headed by a High Court judge, would investigate the stampede. Authorities also advised some of Kolkata’s busiest Durga Puja venues to temporarily shut their gates as concerns over crowd safety intensified.