Six Devotees Die as Temple Wall Collapses in Maharashtra’s Sangli
Incident Overview
Six devotees, including a family of three, lost their lives, and at least 13 others sustained injuries after a wall collapsed at the Shree Margubai Devasthan temple in Maharashtra’s Sangli district on Monday. The incident occurred while devotees were seeking shelter in an adjacent structure during strong winds.
The tragedy unfolded around 5 PM in Motewadi village, located in Jat taluka, approximately 130 kilometers from the district headquarters of Sangli and about 300 kilometers from Pune. According to police reports, the wall collapse caught several individuals under the debris.
Investigation Details
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sachin Thorbole indicated that preliminary investigations revealed the structure, which housed the wall, was constructed over seven years ago. An inquiry is underway to determine the details of its construction and the parties involved.
Prime Minister’s Reaction
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the victims of the incident. In a message shared through an official post, he stated, “Deeply pained to hear the loss of lives due to the collapse of a wall in Sangli, Maharashtra. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this sad hour. May the injured recover at the earliest.”
Circumstances of the Incident
On the day of the incident, over 300 individuals had gathered for a goat sacrifice ritual at the temple, which is dedicated to a local deity. As strong winds intensified, some attendees sought refuge in a structure characterized by a stone wall and a tin roof supported by steel angles. The wall, along with other parts of the structure, collapsed unexpectedly, leading to numerous individuals being trapped beneath the rubble.
Among the deceased were Sangeeta Ramgunda Chaudhary, 30; her sister, Mangal Bhausaheb Mothe, 32; and their father, Shankar Aba Lokhande, 60. All three were residents of Pandujari in Jat taluka. The other reported victims included Arun Vishnu Gejage, 14, and Sonya Laxman Gejage, 14, both from Vijayapura district in Karnataka, and Kondiba Rauba Gejage Vaibhav, 65, also a resident of Jat.
