Human Interest

36 Bodies Pulled From Water at Temple in India After Floor Covering Well Collapses During Fire Ritual

Worshipers had reportedly gathered at the temple for the Hindu festival of Ram Navami when a part of the floor covering the well collapsed, causing victims and debris to fall into the water below

By

Abigail Adams

Published on March 31, 2023 12:06 PM

Rescuers work at the site of a structure built over an old temple well that collapsed Thursday as a large crowd of devotees gathered for the Ram Navami Hindu festival, in Indore, India, . Thirty-five bodies have been found inside a well at a Hindu temple in central India after dozens of people fell into the muddy water when the well's cover collapsed Temple Collapse, Indore, India - 31 Mar 2023 — Photo: Uncredited/AP/Shutterstock

At least 36 people have died in India after falling into a stepwell at a Hindu temple, per multiple reports.

A floor covering at the temple complex in the city of Indore collapsed on Thursday, causing several people to fall into the hole, according to CNN and The Guardian.

The worshipers had gathered at the temple for the Hindu festival of Ram Navami, The Guardian and Reuters reported.

Witnesses said the worshipers had gathered for a fire ritual, according to the Associated Press.

Officials said 36 bodies were pulled from the well, per the reports. At least 16 people were injured, as well.

About 80 people were inside the building at the time of the collapse, according to the Reuters report.

People stand around a structure built over an old temple well that collapsed Thursday as a large crowd of devotees gathered for the Ram Navami Hindu festival in Indore, India, . Up to 35 people fell into the well in the temple complex when the structure collapsed and were covered by falling debris, police Commissioner Makrand Deoskar said. At least eight were killed Temple Collapse, Indore, India - 30 Mar 2023 — Uncredited/AP/Shutterstock

Among the dead is the secretary of the temple's board, municipal corporation commissioner Pawan Kumar Sharma told the AP. The temple's president is among the injured, he added.

"The major cause of deaths could be drowning," Ilayaraja T, a top local government official, told Reuters.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Madhya Pradesh state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the floor collapsed "due to the heavy load" it was holding up, according to CNN.

Home Minister Narottam Mishra said water was pumped out of the well in hopes of aiding rescuers, per the report.

The well held water that was about 25 feet deep at the time of the incident, according to The Guardian.

An accident victim is carried towards a waiting ambulance in Indore, India, . A structure built over an old temple well in India collapsed Thursday as a large crowd of devotees prayed at a festival for Rama, one of the most widely worshipped Hindu deities, killing at least eight people, police said Temple Collapse, Indore, India - 30 Mar 2023 — Uncredited/AP/Shutterstock

Rescuers' response to the incident was reportedly slow. Kantibhai Patel, president of a residents' association, said the first ambulance did not arrive until an hour after authorities were first alerted to the incident, per the AP's report.

Footage from the scene showed emergency crews using ropes and ladders to reach the victims.

One witness said they "saw some people falling with their hands still folded in prayer," The Guardian reported.

An investigation into the collapse is ongoing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences to those impacted by Thursday's tragedy, according to CNN and Reuters.

"The State Government is spearheading rescue and relief work at a quick pace," he said, per CNN's report.