NEW DELHI: At least 35 people have died as a result of the temple stepwell fall tragedy in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Speaking to media, Indore Collector Dr. Ilayaraja T confirmed the rising death toll, saying thirty-five individuals were killed in the tragedy, while 14 people have so far been saved.
“The 18 hours long rescue operation started at around 12:30 on Thursday, and is still ongoing,” he added. The rescue operation led by the Madhya Pradesh police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Emergency and Response Force (SDERF) and district administration is still underway.
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered in the matter.
Local media reports suggested that in January, Indore municipal corporation had ordered the temple’s trust to remove that roof on the stepwell. They backtracked because people invoked “religious sentiments.”
#इंदौर बावड़ी हादसे में रात भर चला रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन। #सेना ने #बावड़ी से मृतकों के शव निकालें…. मृतकों की संख्या 35 हुई #Indore #Indoretemple#Temple #RoofCollapse #MPNews #RamNavami #RoofOfWellCollapses #IndoreTempleTragedy #IndoreTempleCollapse pic.twitter.com/qoXn0UUttP
— mithilesh yadav (@mithilesh501) March 31, 2023
The temple is situated in Sneh Nagar, one of Indore’s oldest residential neighbourhoods, and is run by a private trust. According to sources, the tragedy might have been avoided had the Indore Municipal Corporation responded to local complaints.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, announced that 50,000 will go to the injured and 5 lakh to the surviving family members of the deceased. The Prime Minister Relief Fund will also receive the exgratia of Rs. 2 lakh.
Reacting on the incident, Indian PM Modi tweeted “Extremely pained by the mishap in Indore. Spoke to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and took an update on the situation. The State Government is spearheading rescue and relief work at a quick pace. My prayers are with all those affected and their families.”
