MOSCOW, April 30. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a telegram to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing his deepest condolences over the numerous fatalities due to a tragedy at a religious festival, the Kremlin press service reported on Friday.

"Russia shares the sorrow of the friendly people of Israel,” Putin noted in the telegram. The Russian president conveyed his condolences and support for the relatives of those who had lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to all those who were injured.

Earlier, it was reported that a walkway collapsed during the Lag B’Omer religious festival in the vicinity of Mount Meron near Safed in northern Israel, resulting in 44 deaths and 150 people injured.

Lag B’Omer is celebrated on the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar which this year lasts from sunset on April 29 until late evening of April 30. It marks the end of the epidemic that killed several thousand disciples of Rabbi Akiva who lived in the 2nd century. Traditionally, this holiday is celebrated by lighting bonfires.