1 killed, 8 injured in dome collapse at Pavagadh in Gujarat

A woman was killed and eight persons were injured when a newly constructed dome-like structure of stones suddenly collapsed on them at the foot of Pavagadh hill in Gujarat's Panchmahal district on Thursday afternoon, an official said.

Panchmahal Collector Ashish Kumar ordered a probe into the incident.

A temple of Goddess Kali is located on top of the Pavagadh hill and it attracts thousands of devotees every day.

The foothill of Pavagadh is called Machi, where a dome-like structure made of carved stones was constructed recently and it was used as a rest room by devotees, Kumar said.

''Nine devotees, including women, were crushed under the debris when the structure suddenly collapsed on them. A woman lost her life, while eight others were first referred to a hospital in Halol town and they were later shifted to Vadodara for better treatment,'' the collector said.

Hospital authorities identified the deceased as Gangaben Devipujak (40).

Kumar said engineers of the Road and Building department along with contractors concerned have been asked to visit the spot. The collector said he has ordered an inquiry to find out the exact cause of the tragedy.

In June last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the redeveloped temple of Shree Kalika Mata atop the Pavagadh hill.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)