NEW DELHI, Mar 30: At least 13 people were killed and several others injured after more than 30 people fell into a well at a temple in Indore in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday.
The devotees fell after the roof of the well, which housed the shrine, had collapsed due to heavy footfall on the occasion of Ram Navami. The roof collapsed during a havan, a fire ritual, being performed on the occasion of Ram Navami
An eyewitness said during the religious programme, there was a huge crowd of devotees on the roof of the bawdi (well) in the temple. As the structure could not bear the load of so many people, it caved in, he said. Local residents said the temple was built by putting a slab over the ancient bawdi.
Ten women and a man died in the accident, State Home Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters in Bhopal. It was feared that a few kids were also missing and a search is on to trace them by pumping out the bawdi’s water, Mishra said.
According to the chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, 19 persons were rescued and taken to the hospital but one of them succumbed to his injuries. The CM said he has ordered a probe into the incident.
After the accident, people gathered around the temple looking for their family members who were present on the premises at the time of the tragedy. Kantibhai Patel, president of Patel Nagar Residents Association, said no ambulance reached the spot for an hour even after authorities were alerted about the accident.
The incident at Beleshwar Mahadev temple took place amid a rush of devotees on Ram Navami. Visuals from the spot indicate that the floor of the temple caved in owing to heavy footfall, throwing people into the well. The videos showed devotees being brought out using ropes and ladders.
Chouhan earlier said all efforts were being made to rescue those who fell into the well. “It is an unfortunate incident but the rescue operation is underway,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said he was pained by the mishap. “Extremely pained by the mishap in Indore. Spoke to CM @ChouhanShivraj Ji and took an update on the situation. The State Government is spearheading rescue and relief work at a quick pace. My prayers with all those affected and their families,” he tweeted.
The Chief Minister has also announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and ₹50,000 for every injured person. He also spoke to the Indore collector and police commissioner over the phone and directed them to speed up the rescue operation, said an official.
(Manas Dasgupta)
