A tragic accident unfolded in Maharashtra’s Parbhani district on Saturday afternoon when a portion of an under-construction assembly hall at a Hanuman temple collapsed, killing at least five devotees and injuring several others. Rescue teams raced against time amid fears that dozens of people remained trapped beneath the rubble.
The incident occurred around 3 pm in Yashwadi village, where a large number of devotees had gathered for darshan. Saturdays typically witness heavy footfall at Hanuman temples, and the premises were crowded when the structure suddenly gave way.
According to preliminary information, a section of the roof along with a supporting pillar of the assembly hall under construction collapsed without warning, crashing onto devotees standing underneath. The sudden collapse triggered panic, with people scrambling for safety as clouds of dust engulfed the area.
Officials estimate that nearly 30 to 40 people may have been trapped under the debris immediately after the incident. Local residents, police personnel, and emergency responders launched rescue operations to pull survivors from the rubble. Several injured devotees were shifted to nearby hospitals, with reports suggesting that at least eight to ten people suffered serious injuries.
While rescue efforts continued late into the evening, authorities had yet to determine the exact cause of the collapse. The assembly hall had reportedly been under construction for several days, prompting questions about construction quality, structural stability, and adherence to safety protocols at the site.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families. In a statement, he said that local administration officials were present at the site and that relief and rescue operations were being carried out on a war footing. He also assured that the injured were receiving medical treatment.
Authorities are expected to launch a detailed investigation into the incident to ascertain the reasons behind the collapse. As rescue operations continue, concerns remain over the possibility of more victims being trapped beneath the debris.
