Two vendors die as wall near Ujjain temple collapses

Two more, including a three-year-old girl, were injured in the wall collapse, suspected to have occurred due to heavy water flow following incessant rain. The deceased man and woman were flower vendors outside the temple.

Two people died and two more, including a child, were injured after the boundary wall of a government school-turned-heritage hotel near the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain collapsed on Friday (September 27, 2024) evening following incessant rain.

Ujjain Collector Neeraj Kumar Singh told The Hindu that the deceased, a man and a woman, were street vendors who sold flowers and other items outside the temple.

“A three-year-old girl and a woman are undergoing treatment,” Mr. Singh said.

The Congress slammed the BJP government over the incident and claimed that it was a wall of the temple’s entrance that had collapsed.

“The latest construction of Ujjain Mahakal temple is not able to withstand either wind or water: First the idols of Mahakal Lok [Corridor] fell and now a wall of the temple entrance collapsed, killing 2 people and trapping many others. O Mahakaal, protect everyone and give wisdom to those who are responsible!!” the State Congress said in a post on X. 

Ujjain Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma said that the incident took place at around 7.15 p.m. when, according to him, the wall of the Maharajwada government school near gate no. 4 of the temple collapsed.

“Four people were trapped under the debris. They were rescued and sent to a hospital immediately,” Mr. Sharma said.

He said that the school was handed over to Madhya Pradesh Tourism and was under renovation for a heritage hotel.

“While the main building is currently under construction, the wall that collapsed was completely constructed,” Mr. Sharma said.

Mr. Singh said that prima-facie it appears that the wall collapsed due to heavy water flow. 

“There is an old house close to the incident spot and we tried to demolish it a few times. But there is a Supreme Court stay on it. That house disrupts the flow of rain water in the area and we suspect that the disruption may have caused the wall collapse,” he said, adding that the wall has no connection with the temple.

Mr. Singh also said that a committee headed by the local sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) has been formed to investigate the incident.

Condoling the deaths, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who hails from Ujjain, said that he has directed officials to ensure proper medical treatment to the injured. He also announced financial assistance of ₹4 lakh each to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 each to the injured.

“A very sad incident has happened in Ujjain where two local people died due to wall collapse near Maharajwada School. Senior officials have been directed to ensure proper treatment of the injured. May Baba Mahakal grant the departed souls a place in his holy feet and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense sorrow,” Mr. Yadav said on X.

“The Madhya Pradesh government has given instructions to provide financial assistance of ₹4 lakh each to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 each to the injured. I express my condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief,” he added. 

Published - September 27, 2024 10:37 pm IST