A nine-year-old boy’s death at the ASI-protected Kalleshwara Temple in Karnataka’s Vijayanagara has left locals shaken and angry.
The boy, Vishnu Vinod, had visited the temple with his parents when his ball reportedly fell into an open well. While trying to retrieve it, he lost his balance and fell inside. Despite rescue efforts by nearby residents, he could not be saved.
The tragedy has raised serious concerns about safety at heritage temples. Locals say repeated demands for barricades around the open well were ignored. The absence of basic protective measures has now become the focus of public outrage.
This heartbreaking incident is a reminder that sacred spaces must also be safe spaces. Heritage sites attract families, children, and pilgrims. They must be protected with care, not left vulnerable to preventable accidents.
