Due to a floor collapse at a Hindu temple in India, at least 35 people have died and several others injured, with rescue operations going on, according to international sources.
The incident took place as dozens of worshipers gathered to celebrate a major religious holiday on Thursday when the floor over a stepwell collapsed in the central city of Indore.
As a result of the incident 35 people have died, one missing and many more injured, AFP news agency reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was extremely saddened by the news of the mishap and offered his deep condolences and prayers to the affected families. Modi’s office said affected families will receive a sum of 200,000 as compensation.
The home minister of Madhya Pradesh state, Narottam Mishra has said the investigations are ongoing into the mishap, and rescue efforts were continuing at the site.
Temples across India were overcrowded with Hindu devotees on the occasion of Ram Navami, the birthday of the Hindu Deity Lord Ram.
Due to the overwhelming number of worshipers at holy sites during major religious festivals, deadly accidents are quite common across India.
In 2016, a massive explosion caused by a banned fireworks display at a temple in Kerala marking the Hindu new year resulted in the death of at least 112 people and the injury of hundreds more.
Similarly, in 2013, 115 worshipers died after a stampede occurred at a bridge near a temple in Madhya Pradesh. The accident happened after the spread of rumors that the bridge was about to collapse. It is believed that up to 400,000 people had gathered at the site.
