On Saturday, 5th October, a tragic incident occurred late night in Ludhiana, Punjab when a Devi Jagran pandal collapsed due to a sudden storm. Two women died, and almost around 15 people, mostly children, got injured in the incident. All the injured have been admitted to the hospital. Apart from this, there are reports of trees and electric poles falling at many places due to the storm.
This tragic accident took place near Shri Govind Godham Temple on Hambda Road in Ludhiana. The people living in Dwarka Enclave had organized a Devi Jagran in the ground behind the temple. Singer Pallavi Rawat was called to sing bhajans in the jagran.
On Saturday night, everyone was dancing and singing in the Devi Jagran. Bhent singer Pallavi Rawat was singing a bhajan titled ‘Mata ki Bhent’. As the event was underway, a sudden storm hit the area around 2 am, causing panic among the attendees.
People present on the spot told that when people started getting up and leaving the place because of the storm, the singer and the jagran party made them sit there saying that nothing will happen.
After sometime the wind picked up and the pandal fell down with a thud. During this, the people sitting in the front were buried under it. Since the structure was made of iron, people suffered heavy injuries. As soon as the structure fell, there was screaming all around amidst the strong wind. People started running here and there.
People present on the spot started removing the people buried under the pandal. During this, they found that 2 women had died on the spot. Whereas, around 15 people were injured. Most of them were children, who were sitting in the front row during the Jagran. They were admitted to private hospitals in the city.
It is being told that every year Jagran is organized here by the people of Dwarka Enclave located near Shri Govind Godham Temple. This time also Jagran was organized in the ground behind Shri Govind Godham Temple on Saturday night. The temple committee has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident. On receiving the information, the police also reached the spot and started investigation.