13 dead after a concrete slab on a stepwell collapses at Indore temple

Newsroom24x7 Network

Death toll rises to 36 – updated at 7:00 pm, 31/4/23

Indore: Thirteen people have died after about 3 dozen devotees who had gathered to offer prayers on Ramnavami fell into a stepwell when a concrete slab covering it caved in at Beleshwar Mahadev temple here on Thursday 30 March.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed shock and grief and announed an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased in the unfortunate tragedy in Indore. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.

On 30 January this year, the Indore Municipal Corporation had served a notice for illegal construction in this temple.

Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) had served a notice to Shri Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal Temple Trust, it’s President Sevaram Galani or whosoever concerned, on 30 January 2023. Drawing attention to illegal construction and with reference to an earlier letter of 23 April 2022, IMC had drawn attention to the RCC concrete construction on the step well and renovation work being done and ordered that the concrete slab on the step well be removed.