A packed balcony of a house has collapsed in southern India killing a woman and a child, and injuring 17 other devotees, at a temple festival.

The incident occurred at 6.30 pm local time on September 29 in Alur village near the South Indian city of Nizamabad.

A large number of people had gathered near a temple to take part in the festivities that had been organised on the eve of Dasara festival.

To get a better view of the programmes, a few devotees got on to the parapet of a house in the vicinity.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Shiva Kumar told reporters: “The parapet gave in, unable to bear the weight, resulting in the death Yashoda (23) and Harika (7).”

The injured have been admitted in a nearby hospital.

Police have filed a complaint and would probe if the house had been built with required legal approvals and safety standards, local officials said.

A packed balcony of a house collapsed killing a woman and a child, and injuring 17 other devotees, at a temple festival.

The incident occurred at 6.30 pm on September 29 in Alur village near the South Indian city of Nizamabad.

A large number of people had gathered near a temple to take part in the festivities that had been organised on the eve of Dasara festival.

To get a better view of the programmes, a few devotees got on to the parapet of a house in the vicinity.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Shiva Kumar told reporters: “The parapet gave in, unable to bear the weight, resulting in the death Yashoda (23) and Harika (7).”

The injured have been admitted in a nearby hospital.

Police have filed a complaint and would probe if the house had been built with required legal approvals and safety standards, local officials said.