At Least 35 Dead as Temple Floor Collapses During Indian Festival

At Least 35 Women and Children Dead
Search Operation Mobilizes Over 140 People

In central India, the floor of a temple collapsed, causing visitors to fall into a well beneath the floor, resulting in at least 35 deaths.

On the 31st (local time), according to local media such as The Times of India, the floor of a Hindu temple in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, central India, suddenly gave way during a festival the previous day.

On the 30th (local time), rescue workers are conducting operations at a Hindu temple in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, central India, where a collapse accident occurred.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Underneath the temple floor was a stepwell built over 50 years ago, and the floor essentially served as the cover for the well.

At the time of the accident, the temple was crowded with people celebrating the Hindu festival 'Ram Navami.' 'Ram Navami' is a major Hindu festival commemorating the birth of Lord Rama.

As the crowd gathered, the floor could not bear the weight and collapsed instantly, causing 40 to 50 people standing on it to fall into the well, which is 7.6 meters deep.

Eyewitnesses to the tragedy said, "The floor sank with a loud noise," and "People were unaware that there was a well beneath the floor."

On the 30th (local time), a crowd gathered outside a Hindu temple in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, central India, where a floor collapse accident occurred.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Indian authorities have deployed about 140 rescue workers and military personnel to the site, pumping out water from the well and conducting rescue and search operations.

A senior official from the Indore region stated, "It has been confirmed that 35 people have died," adding, "14 people have been rescued, and 1 person is missing." Most of the deceased are identified as women and children.

Meanwhile, the state government plans to provide compensation of 500,000 rupees (approximately 7.9 million won) to the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees (approximately 790,000 won) to the families of the injured.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.