Parbhani temple tragedy: Seven devotees dead after under-construction roof collapses

Seven devotees died and several others were injured when a portion of an under-construction Hanuman temple collapsed during prayers in Maharashtra

PGurus Newsdesk

June 20, 2026

Seven devotees lost their lives and around 30 were injured after a portion of an under-construction Hanuman temple collapsed during a religious gathering in Parbhani district

A roof and pillar of an under-construction Hanuman temple collapsed during a prayer gathering in Parbhani’s Yashwadi village

At least seven devotees were killed and around 30 others injured after a portion of an under-construction Hanuman temple collapsed during a religious gathering in Maharashtra’s Parbhani district on Saturday afternoon.

The incident occurred at Yashwadi village in Manavat taluka, where a large number of devotees had assembled for weekly prayers. According to officials, a section of the roof and a supporting pillar of a hall being constructed in front of the main temple suddenly gave way, triggering panic among worshippers.

Rescue teams rushed to the site and launched operations to pull people trapped under the debris. Manwat Tehsildar Pandurang Mochewad said several devotees were rescued through coordinated efforts by emergency teams.

“The rescue teams reached the spot quickly and evacuated those trapped beneath the rubble. Around six injured devotees are in critical condition,” he said.

All injured persons have been admitted to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Concerns over dozens trapped

Initial reports suggested that more than 50 devotees could have been trapped beneath the collapsed structure. Police, local administration officials and emergency responders immediately began rescue and relief operations.

Assistant Police Inspector Shinde of the Manwat Police Station reached the site with his team soon after the incident was reported.

The temple attracts devotees from across the district every Saturday, resulting in large crowds during weekly worship programmes.

CM Fadnavis expresses grief

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

“Some devotees have lost their lives in a tragic incident where a portion of the roof of a Hanuman temple under construction collapsed in Yashwadi, Parbhani district. I pay my heartfelt tributes to the deceased devotees and share the grief of their families,” he said.

Fadnavis added that medical treatment was being provided to the injured and that district authorities were supervising rescue and relief efforts on the ground.

Parbhani district guardian minister Meghana Bordikar also assured financial assistance for the injured and the families of the deceased.

Questions raised over construction quality

The collapse has raised serious concerns over the quality of construction and adherence to safety standards at the site. According to local reports, the assembly hall where the accident occurred had been under construction for several days.

Authorities are expected to investigate whether lapses in construction practices or safety norms contributed to the collapse.

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