Stage collapses beneath new minister and his supporters in India

A joyous occasion turned into a nightmare as a stage erected to welcome a newly appointed minister collapsed on Friday in India.

Supporters of local politician, Lakhan Ghanghoria, had held a function in Jabalpur to welcome him after his appointment as the cabinet minister of Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

During the event, his supporters crowded onto the stage in their enthusiasm to garland him. Unable to bear their weight, the stage gave way bringing down everyone crashing to the ground.

A local police official said: "The stage did not crash down in one go, but collapsed gently in parts. First, the minister and aides went down, and then his supporters on the other side if the stage. No-one was hurt."