Updated on: 30 March 2023 04:08 PM IST | Mumbai
S S Nadar | news@debotimes.in

Four people died while several were trapped after a portion of a temple caved in in the Patel Nagar area of Madhya Pradesh’s Indore on Thursday, prompting rescue operations.

“Four people dead while 19 people have been rescued so far after a stepwell collapsed at the Indore temple," ANI reported citing police officials.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish at the mishap in Indore and spoke to CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

“Extremely pained by the mishap in Indore. Spoke to CM Shivraj Chouhan Ji and took an update on the situation. The state government is spearheading rescue and relief work at a quick pace. My prayers with all those affected and their families," he tweeted.

According to reports, a large number of people had gathered on the roof of the ancient bavdi (a large well) at the temple and it caved in as it was unable to bear the load. The incident took place when Ram Navami celebrations were underway.

Visuals from the spot showed chaos and rescue teams, police personnel along with locals carrying out an operation to pull out those trapped. Meanwhile, in another incident during Ram Navami, a massive fire broke out at a temple in Duva village in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. No casualties reported have been reported yet.

The Indore incident comes a day after a fire broke out at a six-storey hotel, trapping 42 people who were later rescued. Of them, 10 were admitted to a hospital.

The incident occurred in Papaya Tree Hotel located in the Rajendra Nagar area, he said.