One dead, 17 injured as stage set up for ‘jagran’ collapses at Kalkaji temple, organisers booked

New Delhi, January 28

A 45-year-old woman died and 17 people were injured when a stage set up for a religious function at the Kalkaji temple here collapsed in the early hours of Sunday, the police said.

The tragic incident occurred around 12.30 am, they said. The identity of the deceased is yet to be identified. According to the police, a ‘jagran’ was organised at the Mahant Parishar of Kalkaji temple on Saturday and around 1,600 people attended it.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condoled the death of the woman and wished for the speedy recovery of those injured.

“I appeal to the people of Delhi to take special care of safety standards in any kind of big event and make arrangements in such a way that no untoward incident happens,” Kejriwal wrote on X.

Southeast DCP Rajesh Deo said no prior permission had been granted for the event at the temple. “However, sufficient staff was deployed to maintain law and order. There was a gathering of around 1,500 to 1,600 people at 12.30 am on Sunday,” he said.

According to the police, an elevated wooden platform supported by an iron frame was set up near the main stage for the families of organisers and VIPs.

At 12.30 am, the elevated platform broke right from the middle as it could not bear the weight of the people sitting on it and collapsed, injuring those seated on it and close to it on the ground, the DCP said.

An FIR under Sections 337, 304A and 188 of the IPC was registered against the organisers and further probe into the matter has been launched, the DCP said.

Delhi Fire Services Director Atul Garg said his department was informed about the incident at 12.45 am. Teams with three fire tenders were rushed to the site. The kirtan stage had collapsed, injuring some people who were rushed to hospitals, he said. — PTI 

Event held sans permission: DCP

Southeast DCP Rajesh Deo said no prior permission had been granted for the event at the temple. “However, sufficient staff was deployed to maintain law and order. There was a gathering of 1,500 people when the stage collapsed on Sunday,” he said.