Hyderabad, May 13: At least six devotees died and several others suffered injuries after a wall and tin sheet structure collapsed at a temple in Maharashtra’s Sangli district on Tuesday evening.
The accident took place at the Margudevi Temple during the annual Margubai Devi Yatra.
Police said sudden strong winds and heavy rainfall triggered the collapse inside the temple premises.
According to officials, nearly 350 devotees were present at the temple when the incident occurred.
Many devotees reportedly gathered near a wall and under tin sheet shelters to protect themselves from the rain and gusty winds.
Heavy Winds Trigger Collapse
Police said the wall and adjoining tin sheets failed to withstand the pressure caused by strong winds.
Several devotees got trapped under the debris after the structure collapsed.
Rescue teams, local residents and police personnel immediately launched operations to pull out victims from the rubble.
Officials shifted at least 14 injured devotees to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Police said the condition of several injured persons remains critical.
Among the deceased, three victims belonged to the local area while the others were from Bijapur taluka in Karnataka.
Tushar Doshi said devotees rushed towards the shelter area after heavy rain began suddenly in the region.
Authorities conducted rescue work for several hours amid difficult weather conditions.
PM Modi Expresses Condolences
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy.
In a message posted on X, Modi said he was deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the temple collapse and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Police and revenue officials visited the spot and conducted a panchnama to assess the damage.
Authorities also started an investigation into the structural safety of the remaining portions of the temple premises.
The incident cast a shadow over the annual religious fair, which attracts a large number of devotees every year from Maharashtra and neighbouring Karnataka.
Local residents mourned the deaths as rescue teams continued monitoring the situation late into the night.
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