Indore: Temple stepwell collapses during Ram Navami celebrations, 13 dead
At least 13 people have died after the Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal Temple built on an ancient stepwell caved in while devotees were celebrating Ram Navami in Madhya Pradesh's Indore on Thursday. Earlier reports said that around 25-30 people standing on the roof fell into the well. Reportedly, the roof of the bavdi, or large well, collapsed due to its inability to support the load.
CM Chouhan directs Indore administration to speed up rescue
Meanwhile, MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan took cognizance of the incident and directed the Indore district administration to speed up the rescue operation. Chouhan also announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to those hurt. Per ANI, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Quick Reaction Force (QRF), and ambulances were on the scene.
Over 25 people fell into the stepwell
What are stepwells?
Stepwells are large wells with corridors of steps descending to the water level. They numbered in the thousands in western India, shaping subterranean architecture and serving as a primary source of water for the people who lived there from the 7th to the 19th centuries.
2 died in stampede at Mathura temple on Janmashtami
Uncontrolled footfall during Mangla Aarti at Mathura's Banke Bihari temple in Uttar Pradesh on the occasion of Janmashtami in August last year killed two people and injured seven others. The crowd inside the temple was many times over the prescribed capacity. Some devotees fainted near the exit gate, limiting movement, and pilgrims began to suffocate as a result of the high temperature and humidity.
