Indore Temple Stepwell Collapse: Homicide case Against Temple Committee President, Secretary

Indore: The president and secretary of Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple were charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder by the Indore police. Thirty-five persons died at this temple after the roof of a stepwell collapsed during a havan on the occasion of Ram Navami on Thursday.

An FIR was filed against the president and secretary of the temple committee in the Indore tragedy case. Both were booked on culpable homicide charges. Indore police said that a case has been registered against the president and secretary of temple administration under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

A search operation is currently underway to trace one missing person. The incident happened on Thursday when the slab constructed on top of an ancient ‘bawdi’ or stepwell collapsed during a ‘havan’ programme at the Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple in the city, plunging several devotees into the water reservoir below.

Madhya Pradesh CM ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. He ordered an inspection of such stepwells or bawdis across the state. The CM announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the victims and Rs 50,000 to every injured person.