Worker killed as decades-old temple dome collapses during demolition
VARANASI, July 12 -- A 59-year-old worker died after the dome of an old Kali temple collapsed on him during demolition work for the Varanasi-Chandauli road-widening project near Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyay (PDDU) Junction on Friday night.
The deceased, Baldev Yadav, a resident of Jhumari village in Chandauli district, was employed by the private company carrying out the road-widening work.
Officials said the demolition of the decades-old Kali temple, located opposite the railway station, was under way when the incident occurred. Yadav was standing about 10 feet away from the structure while a bulldozer was being used to demolish it.
During the operation, the temple dome suddenly collapsed. Yadav and another worker tried to move away but were trapped under the debris.
Local residents rushed to the spot and helped rescue the two men. They were taken to a nearby hospital, where Yadav died during treatment. The condition of the injured worker was not immediately known. The demolition work was stopped temporarily following the incident.
Officials said the temple fell within the alignment of the road-widening project. Keeping in mind the religious sentiments of local residents, a new temple was built at the Subhash Park complex with the consent of the administration and the local community.
The demolition of the old temple began only after the idols of Goddess Kali and other deities were ceremonially shifted and installed at the new temple.
Sub-divisional magistrate Rajiv Mohan Saxena said financial assistance would be provided to the deceased's family. He added that the incident is under investigation. Officials said the road-widening work had been awarded to a private company, and Yadav had been working with the firm for the past three years. The company has also assured assistance to his family....
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