Hundreds of Indian Catholics reportedly stared at the sun last month following rumours that a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary could be seen in the sky.

The incident happened in the district of Kottayam in Kerala state.

Soon afterwards, local eye hospitals started receiving patients with burn damage to their retinas.

Rumours of miracles are common in India. Recently, another person in the same region had claimed that statues of Mary in his house have been "crying" honey and "bleeding" perfumes.