Temple Tragedy in Maharashtra: Five Killed as Under-Construction Roof Collapses

A tragic accident at an under-construction Hanuman temple in Maharashtra's Parbhani district claimed the lives of five people and left at least 18 others injured on Saturday, turning a day of devotion into one of grief and shock.

The incident occurred at Yashwadi village on the Parbhani-Manwat road when a portion of the roof of the temple's under-construction sabha mandap (outer hall) suddenly collapsed around 3.30 pm . According to police officials, several devotees were present at the site when the structure gave way, trapping many beneath the debris.

Rescue teams and local authorities rushed to the scene immediately after the collapse. Officials said around 25 people were rescued from the rubble during the operation, while efforts continued to ensure that no one remained trapped.

The temple had witnessed a larger-than-usual gathering of devotees as Saturday , a day associated with Lord Hanuman , drew worshippers from nearby areas. Authorities believe the heavy rush at the time of the collapse contributed to the scale of the tragedy.

The deceased were identified as Santosh Gadade , Akash Surduse , Munesh Agarwal (26) , Suraj Popatkar (20) and Srikrushna Gaware (38) . Their deaths have cast a pall of gloom over their families and local communities.

Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. He said the injured were receiving necessary medical treatment and assured government support to those affected.

The Chief Minister also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each deceased victim.

The collapse has raised serious questions about construction safety standards at religious sites and public structures. Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the accident and determine whether any negligence was involved in the construction work.

As rescue operations concluded and the dust settled over the temple premises, the village was left mourning a tragedy that transformed a routine day of worship into a heartbreaking disaster.