Giving an update on the death toll and rescue operations, Indore Collector Illiya Raja T said more than 50 people fell into the well. Of these, 35 people died. Most people belong to the same family. He stated that there are also many children in the accident.
The death toll from the collapse of a stepwell at an Indore temple rose to 35 on Friday morning as a search operation was launched to trace those who were reported missing after the tragic incident. Several people fell into a well and the roof of the Shri Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple collapsed during Ram Navami celebrations in Indore’s Patel Nagar area.
Giving an update on the death toll and rescue operations, Indore Collector Illiya Raja T said more than 50 people fell into the well. Of these, 35 people died. Most people belong to the same family. He stated that there are also many children in the accident.
“There was a major accident in Juni area of Indore. 36 bodies have been recovered so far. The rescue operation is still going on. Army team was also called for the rescue operation late last night. Work was done to remove 11 bodies during the day and 24 bodies till till late night,” said Illiya Raja T, Collector, Indore while talking to Times Now.
He added: “The administration had to face many problems during the rescue operation. The accident occurred due to the collapse of the roof over the well. During the hawan, more than 50 people fell into the well. Out of them 35 people Most of the people belong to the same family. Many children are also involved in the accident.”
Teams of NDRF, SDRF and Army carried out rescue operation overnight. The Indore Collector assured that an inquiry has been ordered and strict action will be taken against anyone found guilty.
CM announces financial aid
On Thursday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced an exgratia of Rs 5 lakh to the relatives of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had spoken to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to update him on the situation. The Prime Minister said he was deeply hurt by the accident and assured that the state government was leading the rescue work.
A team of 70 army personnel along with NDRF and SDRF are involved in the operation. They are engaged in draining the stairwell and continue to search for persons who were reported missing after the incident.
The accident occurred when devotees were sitting on the floor during a hawan at the temple. There was a Bawadi (stepwell) under the floor. The cement seal of the staircase collapsed and the devotees fell into the well. An old well has been covered with a concrete slab in the courtyard of the Lord Shiva temple in Patel Nagar. The concrete collapsed due to the load when a huge number of devotees turned up at the temple, Bhanwarkuan police said. The victims fell into the water and held on to dangling fragments of concrete and iron mesh to save themselves.
