At least 31 people have been killed and 100 injured in a stampede during the Shia Muslim religious rituals of Ashura in Iraq‘s holy city of Kerbala.

The death toll, released by the Iraqi Health Ministry, was expected to rise.

At least 10 people were in a critical condition.

The stampede happened when a walkway collapsed towards the end of the Ashura procession, The Associated Press reported.

The collapse caused a panicked rush among worshippers near the gold-domed Imam Hussein shrine.

In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation Show all 18 1 /18 In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation Iraqi Shiite boys take part in a self-flagellation procession during the reenactment of the Battle of Karbala, as part of a parade in preparation for the peak of the mourning period of Ashura Getty In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation The religious festival of Ashura, which includes a ten-day mourning period, commemorates the seventh century slaying of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussein in Karbala in Iraq Getty In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation A Pakistani Shiite Muslim boy is silhouetted against the sky as he flagellates himself with chains and blades in commemoration of Ashura, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation Police officers watch as boys participate in self flagellation during the Shi'ite Muharram procession in Peshawar, Pakistan Reuters In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation A group of men participate in self flagellation during the Shi'ite Muharram procession in Islamabad, Pakistan Reuters In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation Afghan Shiite Muslims use chains and blades during ritual self-flagellation as part of Ashura commemorations at a mosque in Kabul Getty In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation An Afghan Shiite Muslim bleeds after using chains and blades during ritual self-flagellation as part of Ashura commemorations at a mosque in Kabul Getty In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation Ritual self-flagellation as part of Ashura commemorations at a mosque in Kabul Getty In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation Ashura commemorations at a mosque in Kabul. Ashura mourns the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, who was killed by armies of the Yazid near Karbala in 680 AD Getty In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation Iraqi Shiite Muslim men flagellate themselves in commemorations on the tenth day of the mourning period of Muharram, which marks the day of Ashura Getty In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation A man's back is stitched up by medics after self flagellation during the Shi'ite Muharram procession in Islamabad, Pakistan Reuters In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation Afghan Shiite Muslims watch as others use chains and blades during ritual self-flagellation as part of Ashura commemorations at a mosque in Kabul Getty In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation Iraqi Shiite Muslim men are seen after flagellating themselves on the tenth day of the mourning period of Muharram, which marks the day of Ashura, in the holy city of Najaf Getty In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation Iraqi Shiites take part in commemorations on the tenth day of the mourning period of Muharram, which marks the day of Ashura, in the holy city of Najaf Getty In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation Knives are displayed for sale during commemorations for Ashura in Kerbala, Iraq Reuters In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation Iraqi Shiite boys take part in a self-flagellation procession during the reenactment of the Battle of Karbala, as part of a parade in preparation for the peak of the mourning period of Ashura Getty In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation A Pakistani Shiite Muslim flagellates himself with chains and blades a day ahead of the commemoration of Ashura, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA In pictures: Muslims around world mark Ashura with self-flagellation Pakistani Shiite Muslims flagellate themselves during the Ashura procession in Peshawar. The Islamic month of Muharram marks the seven-century martyrdom of Prophet Mohammad's grandson Imam Hussein who was killed in battle in Karbala in Iraq in 680 AD Getty

Officials said the stampede took place during the so-called “Tweireej” run, when tens of thousands of people run towards the shrine around noon.

The annual pilgrimage, which marks the death of the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, Imam Hussein, in battle in the year 680, draws hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims from around the world to Kerbala.

Imam Hussein’s death is thought to have cemented the schism between Shia and Sunni Islam.

During the rituals Shia Muslims cut themselves with swords and knives and cover their bodies with mud.

They mark the holy Day of Ashura, the 10th day of the “mourning month” of Muharram.

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Stampedes have occurred during the rituals in the past.

The processions have also been attacked by extremist Sunni militants.

In 2004, at the height of Iraq’s sectarian violence, 143 people were killed in near simultaneous suicide and other bombings at shrines in Baghdad and Kerbala during the Ashura procession.