Indian officials say at least 16 people died Tuesday after a stampede broke out at a Hindu religious ceremony on the banks of the Ganges River in India's northern Uttrakhand state.

Officials say the stampede happened when thousands of pilgrims converged on a Hindu monastery, pushing past dozens who had tripped and fallen while trying to make religious offerings.

Scores of people were injured in the incident, which happened near the town of Haridwar – one of Hinduism's holiest cities – which is about 175 kilometers north of the capital, New Delhi.

Stampedes often break out at religious ceremonies in India because of inadequate policing, poor crowd control and rumors of emergencies.