Drive to Remove Encroachment from Indore Temple Premises Begins by Civic Body

Guwahati: The local administration launched a campaign on Monday to remove unlawful encroachments from the religious complex in Madhya Pradesh, days after the tragedy at the Indore temple.

When the drive began, reports state that the deity idols were transferred from the Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple to the Kantafod temple.

The drive was started at the Patel Nagar area temple complex, where there was considerable police presence and barricades on the roads leading to the temple.

Official sources were quoted by PTI saying, “The drive has been taken up to remove encroachments from about 10,000 square feet of land around the temple premises.”

Following the temple disaster, two temple trustees were charged with culpable homicide that did not amount to murder and suspended from their positions with the Indore Municipal Corporation while an investigation was conducted.

Notably, the Indore stepwell collapse case had at least 35 confirmed fatalities.

He said, “Total of 35 people died, one missing and 14 people have been rescued. Two people returned home safely after getting treatment. The search operation to trace persons reported missing is underway.”

“The 18 hours long rescue operation started at around 12:30 on Thursday, and is still ongoing,” Ilayaraja T further mentioned.

Information received indicates that on March 30, while a “hawan” was being held at the Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal Temple in the Patel Nagar neighbourhood of Madhya Pradesh’s Indore, at least 14 devotees died as a result of the roof of a stepwell collapsing.

The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has offered ex-gratia payments of Rs. 5 lakhs to the surviving family members and Rs. 50,000 to the injured.

CM Chouhan said, “An ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh will be given to next of kin of the deceased while Rs 50,000 will be given to the injured.”

Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in order to assess the situation in Indore

Moreover, PM Modi took to Twitter and wrote, “Extremely pained by the mishap in Indore. Spoke to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and took an update on the situation. The State Government is spearheading rescue and relief work at a quick pace. My prayers are with all those affected and their families.”