At least six devotees lost their lives, and many others were injured when a wall and tin sheets collapsed at a temple in Sangli, Maharashtra, due to strong winds and heavy rains. The incident occurred at the Margudevi Temple in Mothewadi village under Jath tehsil in Sangli district. Among the victims, three were local residents, while the rest were from Bijapur taluka in Karnataka.
The tragedy unfolded as sudden gusty winds and heavy rainfall hit the area, causing the wall and tin sheets on the temple premises to give way. This led to several people being trapped under the debris as they sought shelter near the collapsed structures. Local authorities and residents swiftly initiated a rescue operation to extricate those trapped in the rubble.
Sangli Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi mentioned that around 350 devotees were present at the temple when the wall collapsed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences for the lives lost in the incident, extending his thoughts to the affected families. The mishap occurred during the Margubai Devi Yatra, an annual fair that draws a significant number of devotees to the temple.
While rescue efforts have mostly concluded, authorities are still monitoring the condition of the injured individuals and assessing the structural safety of the remaining temple buildings. The local community is in mourning following the tragic event, with police and revenue administration officials conducting an official assessment at the site.
