Media reports say at least 40 people have been killed and dozens wounded when a crowd of pilgrims stampeded at a Hindu temple in the historic town of Jaipur in western India.

The Press Trust of India news agency is quoting local government official Kiran Soni Gupta as saying that 40 bodies have been brought to hospitals in the city.

Thousands had gathered at the temple at dawn Tuesday to mark the start of a Hindu festival.