New Delhi: Twelve people have died after falling into a temple’s stepwell in Indore, Madhya Pradesh on Thursday during Ram Navami celebrations.
The accident happened at the Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal Temple in the city’s Patel Nagar area, when the shrine was bursting with devotees.
Many people, among them women and children, were sitting on the stepwell’s roof when it collapsed taking them all down.
Nearly 20 people were rescued till early Thursday evening, though some were still trapped inside.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter that he was being updated on the situation by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. “My prayers with all those affected and their families,” he said.
Chouhan termed the incident “unfortunate” and said the rescue operation was on in full force.
The chief minister said the government was working with the administration and social workers to save as many victims as possible.
He said: “We could pull out 19 from the well, of whom one was very critical. Eighteen of the rescued are safe. It is very unfortunate that we could not save another eleven, who were brought out dead. The well was old. It gave way due to the weight of the crowd. I have ordered an inquiry. The government mourns with the kin of the deceased and will pay them Rs 5 lakh each. Rs 50,000 will be paid to the injured.”
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