Tragedy Strikes Indore Temple On Ram Navami: Death Toll Rises To 35, Search For Missing Person Underway

On Friday, the death toll in the Indore temple stepwell roof collapse incident increased to 35, with one person still missing as rescue efforts continue, according to an official.

The mishap occurred during a 'havan' ceremony held on the occasion of Ram Navami at the Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple in Patel Nagar, Indore.

The slab constructed on top of an ancient stepwell, or 'bawdi', gave way and caused several devotees to fall into the water reservoir below. The temple, built around four decades ago, had covered a square-shaped stepwell measuring about 20 feet by 20 feet.

"Our search operation, being carried out with the help of Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), is nearing completion. So far, 35 bodies have been recovered from the well," Indore District Magistrate Dr Ilayaraja T told reporters from the site of the incident.

The bodies of all persons, except one, whose names were mentioned in the list of missing persons, have been recovered so far, he said.

There is a lot of silt in the well and it is being removed to trace the missing person, he added.

The rescue operation was initially hampered as the temple was built in a narrow space and a wall was broken to lower a pipe to pump out water from the well, officials said.

According to an eyewitness, the collapse occurred due to the large crowd of devotees present at the temple during the religious ceremony, as the floor could not withstand the weight. Local residents have stated that the temple was constructed by placing a slab over the ancient stepwell.

(with inputs from PTI)