Six devotees were killed and at least 13 others were injured when a wall at the Shree Margubai Devasthan temple in Motewadi village, Jat taluka, Maharashtra, collapsed during a storm on Tuesday evening. The incident occurred around 5 pm amidst strong winds and heavy rains, causing a structure adjacent to the temple to crumble.
Temple Wall Collapse Amid Storm Claims Six Lives
Information available with The Chenab Times indicates that the devotees were seeking shelter in a structure near the temple when the wall collapsed, trapping them under the debris. The deceased have been identified as Sangeeta Ramgunda Chaudhary, 30, her sister Mangal Bhausaheb Mothe, 32, and their father Shankar Aba Lokhande, 60, all from Pandujari in Jat taluka. Also killed were Arun Vishnu Gejage, 14, Sonya Laxman Gejage, 14, both from Vijayapura district in neighboring Karnataka, and Kondiba Rauba Gejage Vaibhav, 65, a resident of Jat.
According to Sangli district police, over 300 people were attending a goat sacrifice ritual at the temple when the tragedy struck. The structure that collapsed had a stone wall and a tin roof supported by steel angles. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collapse and who constructed the wall, which police sources suggest was built over seven years ago. Some reports indicate that the wall was constructed using ‘chira’ bricks stacked without mortar, making it vulnerable in severe weather conditions.
Prime Minister Expresses Condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives. “Deeply pained to hear the loss of lives due to the collapse of a wall in Sangli, Maharashtra. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this sad hour. May the injured recover at the earliest,” stated an X post from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) quoting Modi.
The incident has prompted an immediate response from local authorities. Rescue and relief operations were launched promptly with the assistance of residents and the administration. The injured devotees were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, with the condition of some reported as critical. Officials have stated that the continuous rain may have weakened the wall, contributing to the accident.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
