A senior police official said an investigation is underway to establish the cause of the incident.
At least 16 people, including a policeman and three Home Guards, have died after the railing of a bridge got electrified in Uttarakhand. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the spot and ordered a magisterial inquiry.
The bridge, which is part of a sewage treatment plant under the Namami Gange project, spans the Alaknanda river near Pipalkoti village in Chamoli district.
Chamoli Superintendent Of Police Pramendra Dobhal said the incident took place last night.
"We got a call that a security guard has died of electrocution. When police personnel went with villagers for the panchnama (spot inspection), 22 people were electrocuted and suffered severe injuries. 15 people died in a hospital and seven are critical."
The chief minister has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the dead and Rs 1 lakh each for the injured. Sources said Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Mr Dhami to take stock of the incident.
Speaking earlier in the day, Mr Dhami said, "We have received news of a grim incident in Chamoli district. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered. Rescue teams, including the State Disaster Response Force, are at the spot. Helicopters have been made available to shift the injured to bigger hospitals."
The seven people who were injured in the incident have now been shifted to the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh using helicopters.
Assistant Director General of Police (law and order) V Murugesan said an investigation is underway to establish the cause of the incident.
The Namami Gange project is an integrated conservation mission to curb the pollution of the Ganga and revive the river.