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, police said.
The tragic incident occurred around 12.30 am, they said, the deceased has been identified as Tina, a resident of Tughlakabad extension.
According to police, a ‘jagran’ (religious function) was organised at the Mahant Parishar of Kalkaji temple on Saturday and around 1,600 people attended it.
The temple management had hired event planners to organise the jagran. No arrests have been made so far, police sources said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condoled the death of the woman and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured.
“The accident that happened last night during a ‘jagran’ at the Kalkaji temple is tragic. A woman has died, may her soul rest in peace. I wish for the speedy recovery of the 17 injured people,” Kejriwal said in a post on ‘X’ in Hindi.
“I appeal to 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,” he added.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) 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 around 12.30 am on Sunday,” he said.
