Prayagraj: A major section of the Swaminarayan temple in Prayagraj collapsed suddenly amid incessant heavy rainfall. The incident took place late on Friday night while people were resting inside the temple complex. The front portion of the religious structure came crashing down to the ground accompanied by a sudden, loud thud. The deafening sound startled sleeping residents, who immediately rushed to safety. A major disaster was averted as no one came under the falling debris, and authorities confirmed that no injuries have been reported so far.
Used as a guest house for visitors
According to available details, the section of the Prayagraj temple that caved in was primarily utilized for accommodating out-of-town guests and visitors. Preparations were underway to construct a large three-storey commercial-cum-residential apartment complex in an adjacent area bordering the temple premises. For this purpose, a deep pit had been excavated at the site. Local residents pointed out that continuous downpours in the region led to massive water accumulation inside this pit.
The stagnant water saturated the soil around the temple foundation, severely weakening its structural base. This underlying instability, combined with the heavy rain pressure, triggered the sudden collapse of the massive front facade. Visuals and updates regarding this incident were shared on X.
Panic in the locality and ongoing probe
Moin Ali, an eyewitness to the accident, stated that while a rear portion of the building remains standing, the entire front segment has been completely destroyed. The sudden collapse triggered widespread panic and chaos throughout the neighborhood. District administration officials and relevant response teams rushed to the spot immediately to assess the situation. Authorities are currently investigating the exact triggers behind the collapse and evaluating how the nearby excavation work impacted the structural integrity of the temple, while local authorities express relief that a nocturnal catastrophe resulted in zero loss of human life.
