Gurushivam at 17:47, 4 March 2026

2026-03-04T17:47:35Z

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{{Short description|2023 disaster in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox event
| title = Indore stepwell collapse
| date = 30 March 2023
| time =
| location = Beleshwar Mahadev Temple, [[Indore]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], India
| coordinates =
| type = Collapse
| theme =
| cause = Overcrowding
| reported deaths = 36
| reported injuries = 16
| suspected perpetrators =
| victims =
| perps =
| numparts =
| motive =
| affected =
| inquiries =
| litigation =
| verdict =
| suspects =
| convicts =
| charges =
| website =
}}
On 30 March 2023, a [[stepwell]] cover in an Beleshwar Mahadev temple in [[Indore]], [[Madhya Pradesh]], India; collapsed during a celebration of [[Rama Navami]], killing at least 36 people and injuring 16.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Dhillon |first=Amrit |date=2023-03-31 |title=Thirty-six dead after floor of Indian temple collapses |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/30/people-trapped-in-well-in-indore-india-after-temple-floor-collapses |access-date=2023-03-31 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=2023-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330215553/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/30/people-trapped-in-well-in-indore-india-after-temple-floor-collapses |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Collapse ==
On the occasion of [[Rama Navami]], a large number of [[Hindus]] visited Beleshwar Mahadev Temple, which sits atop an unused {{Convert|40|ft|m|adj=on}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-30 |title=12 killed in Indore temple stepwell collapse; 19 rescued so far |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bhopal-news/12-killed-in-indore-temple-stepwell-collapse-19-rescued-so-far-101680178148596.html |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> [[stepwell]] covered by a grill and tiles.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=At least 35 killed after well covering at India temple collapses |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/31/at-least-35-killed-after-well-covering-at-india-temple-collapses |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=[[Al Jazeera English]] |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331115446/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/31/at-least-35-killed-after-well-covering-at-india-temple-collapses |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1" /> The weight of the crowd caused the cover to collapse, according to [[Shivraj Singh Chouhan]], [[Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Ashok |date=2023-03-31 |title=35 bodies found inside well after collapse at Indian temple |url=https://apnews.com/article/deadly-temple-well-collapse-india-6a39103758f2b8b9ca56ab000c8d2bfd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331103804/https://apnews.com/article/deadly-temple-well-collapse-india-6a39103758f2b8b9ca56ab000c8d2bfd |archive-date=2023-03-31 |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en}}</ref> The incident resulted in death of 36 people and injuries to other 16.<ref name=":1" />

== Rescue and relief ==
After its collapse, nearly 140 army soldiers helped pull the injured and dead from the well with ropes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhaskar |first=Yashwant |title=140 army soldiers rescue operation underway |url=https://zeenews.india.com/video/news/indore-temple-collapse-140-army-soldiers-rescue-operation-underway-2589680.html |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=[[Zee News]] |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331115453/https://zeenews.india.com/video/news/indore-temple-collapse-140-army-soldiers-rescue-operation-underway-2589680.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Those rescued were brought to a hospital in [[Indore]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zargar |first=Arshad R. |title=India temple floor collapse leaves at least 12 Hindu worshipers dead as victims fall into walk-in well |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/india-temple-collapse-deaths-hindu-worshipers-fall-walk-in-well/ |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=[[CBS News]] |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330220945/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/india-temple-collapse-deaths-hindu-worshipers-fall-walk-in-well/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Narottam Mishra]], a government cabinet minister, said in a statement that water was pumped out of the well in an effort to ease rescue and recovery efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sud |first=Jessie Yeung, Manveena Suri, Vedika |date=2023-03-31 |title=At least 35 killed after falling into underground stepwell in Indian temple |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/31/india/india-temple-stepwell-collapse-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=[[CNN]] |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331120752/https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/31/india/india-temple-stepwell-collapse-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]] said that {{INRconvert|2|l}} will be given as compensation,<ref>{{Cite web |title=At least 35 killed in India temple collapse |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/at-least-35-killed-in-india-temple-collapse-1.94813305 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331115451/https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/at-least-35-killed-in-india-temple-collapse-1.94813305 |archive-date=2023-03-31 |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=[[Gulf News]] |date=30 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref> while Mishra said that an investigation and compensation to families would be forthcoming.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yasir |first=Sameer |date=2023-03-30 |title=At Least 35 Are Killed in India When a Temple's Well Cover Collapses |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/30/world/asia/indore-temple-well-collapse-india.html |url-status=live |access-date=2023-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330214938/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/30/world/asia/indore-temple-well-collapse-india.html |archive-date=2023-03-30 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== Investigation ==
An [[First information report|FIR]] was lodged against the president and the secretary of the temple trust. ''[[The Hindu]]'' reported that the stepwell roof was two decades old and was an illegal construction. The [[Indore Municipal Corporation]] had asked the temple trust to remove the illegal construction but the temple trust had not complied.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sikdar |first=Shubhomoy |date=2023-03-31 |title=Indore stepwell roof collapse death toll rises to 36 |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/indore-stepwell-collapse-residents-allege-illegal-construction-encroachment-by-temple-as-death-toll-mounts-to-36/article66684775.ece |access-date=2023-04-08 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Reaction ==
[[Narendra Modi]], [[Prime Minister of India]] offered his condolences, thoughts, and prayers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Deaths in India temple tragedy climb |url=https://www.dw.com/en/deaths-in-india-temple-tragedy-climb/a-65189589 |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=[[DW News]] |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331110346/https://www.dw.com/en/deaths-in-india-temple-tragedy-climb/a-65189589 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, said "It's an unfortunate incident. A rescue operation is underway. 10 people were rescued safely while nine are still trapped and will be rescued. Efforts are underway to rescue other people."<ref>{{Cite web |title=India: At least 8 dead, dozen rescued after 25 worshippers plunge into stepwell of temple |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/asia/at-least-eight-dead-in-india-temple-collapse |access-date=2023-03-31 |website=[[Khaleej Times]] |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330114736/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/asia/at-least-eight-dead-in-india-temple-collapse |url-status=live }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Disasters in India in 2023}}
{{Portal bar|Hinduism|India}}

[[Category:March 2023 in India]]
[[Category:2023 disasters in India]]
[[Category:Stepwells in India]]
[[Category:History of Indore]]

Indore stepwell collapse - Revision history

Gurushivam at 17:47, 4 March 2026