Tragic Incident at Indian Temple: Death Toll Rises to 35

The death toll from the tragic accident at a temple in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India has risen to 35. The disaster was caused by the collapse of a roof, which led to a group of worshippers falling into a stepwell. This was reported by the Associated Press.

Rescue teams used an excavator to demolish the temple wall to allow people to escape. Around 140 rescuers and soldiers were working at the scene. Earlier reports had indicated 13 fatalities. According to sources from AFP, one person is still considered missing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing.

The tragedy occurred around noon on March 30 (11:00 AM Yerevan time) as devotees had gathered at the Hindu temple in Indore to celebrate the legendary king Rama's day of revelation, who is worshipped as one of the avatars of the god Vishnu.

The stepwell, just a few meters wide, could not withstand the weight of the large crowd, resulting in their fall. Stepwells were common in India and Pakistan until the 19th century, before the advent of modern drainage systems. Today, many of them are no longer used for their original purpose, serving instead as tourist attractions and architectural monuments.