A tragic incident has claimed at least seven lives while leaving 25 others injured after the roof of an under-construction hall collapsed at a Hanuman temple complex in Kampung Yashwadi, Parbhani district in Maharashtra, India.
Authorities said the structure gave way on Saturday while hundreds of devotees had gathered at the site for a weekly religious ceremony and a community meal. The sudden collapse triggered panic, with worshippers rushing in all directions to escape the falling debris.
Rescue teams reported that a total of 32 people were pulled from the rubble, but seven of them were confirmed dead due to severe injuries sustained in the incident. Such tragedies often highlight the risks linked to construction safety lapses, particularly in crowded public spaces.
Emergency operations lasted around two and a half hours, involving police officers, disaster management personnel, Public Works Department teams and local residents who assisted in clearing the debris. A coordinated response is often critical in reducing casualties during large-scale structural failures like this.
The collapsed hall was located in front of the main temple building and was commonly used for religious activities as well as distribution of free meals, known locally as mahaprasad. Incidents involving public gathering spaces underscore the importance of strict structural safety checks during ongoing construction work.
Fire brigade teams from Pathri, along with local authorities, also deployed ambulances to transport the injured to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment. In many such cases, rapid medical response plays a key role in improving survival chances for victims of building collapses.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed condolences to the families of those who died and announced compensation of 500,000 rupees (about RM21,900) for each bereaved family. He also instructed local officials to ensure immediate assistance and support are provided without delay.
