Sangli: At least six devotees lost their lives and 12 to 14 others were injured after a wall and tin sheets collapsed at a temple premises in Maharashtra’s Sangli district following sudden heavy rain and strong winds on Tuesday evening, police said.
The tragic incident occurred at the Margudevi Temple in Mothewadi village under Jath tehsil, where a large number of devotees had gathered for the weekly Tuesday visit. Authorities said nearly 350 people were present on the temple premises at the time of the mishap.
Police officials confirmed that the collapse was triggered by a sudden change in weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and gusty winds that hit the area in the evening hours.
Sudden rain and wind triggered collapse
According to police, devotees had taken shelter near a wall and under tin sheets when the weather turned severe. However, the structure was unable to withstand the pressure of the strong winds and heavy rain, leading to a sudden collapse.
“There were around 350 devotees on the temple premises. In the evening, sudden strong winds accompanied by heavy rains lashed the area, prompting devotees to take shelter along a wall and under tin sheets. The wall and the tin sheets suddenly collapsed, trapping devotees,” said Tushar Doshi, a police official.
The sudden collapse trapped several people underneath debris, triggering panic among those present at the site. Locals and nearby devotees immediately rushed to rescue those who were stuck under the fallen structure.
Six dead, several injured in the tragedy
Officials confirmed that six devotees died on the spot due to injuries sustained in the collapse. Around 12 to 14 others were injured, some of them critically, and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Hospital authorities have stated that the injured are currently receiving medical care, and their condition is being closely monitored. The exact condition of the critically injured victims has not yet been officially disclosed.
The incident has raised concerns about structural safety at religious sites, especially during periods of heavy rainfall and extreme weather conditions, which have become increasingly frequent in parts of Maharashtra.
Rescue operations carried out immediately
Soon after the collapse, rescue and relief operations were launched at the temple premises. Police teams, local administration officials and emergency responders worked together to clear debris and evacuate those trapped under the collapsed structure.
Local residents also joined the rescue efforts before emergency services reached the site. The area was later secured to ensure safe evacuation and to prevent further risk to devotees.
Authorities are expected to conduct a detailed inspection of the temple structure and surrounding constructions to determine whether safety norms were followed.
Frequent temple gatherings under scrutiny
Officials noted that the Margudevi Temple attracts a large number of devotees every Tuesday, making it a busy gathering point in the village. The high footfall, combined with temporary or semi-permanent structures like tin sheds, has now come under scrutiny following the incident.
The collapse has once again highlighted concerns over infrastructure safety at religious places, especially during monsoon conditions when heavy rains and strong winds are common in Maharashtra.
Local administration is expected to review safety measures at similar sites in the region to prevent such incidents in the future. Meanwhile, families of the deceased are being provided assistance, and further investigation into the exact cause of the structural failure is underway.
As the village mourns the loss of lives, officials have urged caution and adherence to safety guidelines during large gatherings, especially in adverse weather conditions.