Rescue operations are underway after a stepwell roof at a temple in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, collapsed killing at least 36.

Footage from March 30 shows a young survivor being pulled out of the debris at the Beleshwar Mahadev temple.

The rescue operation, which has gone on for over 18 hours, involved pumping water out of the stepwell, and the army was dispatched to the scene.

The state's chief minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, attributed the collapse to the weight on the top of the structure.

Chouhan announced an ex-gratia payment of around $6,000 will be paid to the kin of the deceased and those injured will receive around $600.

Thirty-five people have died and 14 have been rescued so far after the roof of a stepwell collapsed at a temple in central India's Madhya Pradesh.

The incident happened at the Beleshwar Mahadev temple on March 30.

Visuals showed the ongoing rescue operation where the police and State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) officials attempted to save the ones trapped. Ropes and ladders were used to rescue the ones trapped. Chaos prevailed in the area after the mishap.

According to a report, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, the Madhya Pradesh chief minister, has announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh ( $6,081.41) to the kin of the deceased. Those injured will receive Rs 50,000 ($608.10). Indore collector Ilayaraja T said, "Total of 35 people died, one missing and 14 people have been rescued. Two people returned home safely after getting treatment. The search operation to trace persons reported missing is underway. The 18 hours long rescue operation started at around 12:30 on Thursday, and is still ongoing."