AMN / NEWS AGENCIES
At least five devotees were killed and nearly 40 others sustained injuries after a section of a temple structure collapsed in Manwat taluka of Maharashtra’s Parbhani district on SATURDAY. The incident occurred during a gathering of devotees who had assembled at the temple for darshan.
According to initial reports, a portion of the temple’s inner structure gave way while worshippers were present at the site, triggering panic and trapping several people under the debris.
Rescue teams rushed to the location immediately after the collapse and launched relief operations. Officials said that around 20 to 25 people were pulled out from the rubble during the rescue effort. Several injured devotees were shifted to nearby medical facilities, where approximately 15 people continue to receive treatment.
Authorities are monitoring the condition of the injured while local administration teams remain engaged at the site to ensure that no one remains trapped.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the loss of lives and conveyed condolences to the affected families. He also announced financial assistance of ₹5 lakh each for the next of kin of those who died in the accident.
Preliminary information suggests that stone was being used in the temple’s construction. Officials are expected to conduct a detailed assessment to determine the exact cause of the collapse and examine whether structural safety concerns contributed to the incident.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns over crowd management and structural safety measures at religious sites during periods of high footfall.