Almost 50 people reportedly lost their sight after staring at the sky in hopes of catching a glimpse of the rumored image of the Virgin Mary.

Officials of India's Kottayam district reported a total of 48 individuals experiencing the condition, after medical examinations determined that their retinas were burned from staring at the sun. The cases had reportedly been constantly coming in since Friday last week.

According to the UPI, the victims were adamantly insistent upon seeing an image of Mary that allegedly appeared above the house of a former hotel owner in Erumeli.

Despite several warnings from city and church officials regarding the dangers of looking at the sky, thereby exposing the eyes to the harsh rays of the sun, pious individuals continued to go to and try to see the alleged image.

"All our patients have similar history and symptoms," said Dr. Anamma James Isaac, an ophthalmologist at the St. Joseph's ENT and Eye hospital. "they have developed photochemical, not thermal, burns after continuously gazing at the sin."

The hotel owner, who currently resides in a different area, reportedly claimed other miraculous incidences in his home. The Telegraph reported him saying that he had witnessed the statues of the Virgin Mary in his house crying with tears of honey, and bleeding oils and perfumes.

Church officials have been approached both by city officials and medical experts. Members of the clergy have denounced the rumors, and warning people of the dangers of the practice.