A three-storey building collapsed on the premises of the Swaminarayan temple in the George Town area of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday night, with no casualties reported, an official said.
The building, located opposite K.P. College, collapsed on August 28, 2026, according to temple authorities. Swaminarayan temple ‘kothari’ (temple’s administrative leader) Kamlesh Bhagat stated that a construction project was underway behind the collapsed structure, and a pit dug for this purpose had been filled with water for an extended period.
The water is believed to have weakened the foundation of the three-storey building, he said. The building had 12 rooms and had developed cracks. It had been closed for about a week before it collapsed, Mr. Bhagat said.
At the time of the incident, there was no one inside the building, and no injuries or fatalities have been reported. The loud crash was mistaken by nearby residents for an earthquake, sparking panic in the area.
The collapsed structure contained 12 rooms that were used to accommodate visiting guests and other people associated with the temple. Construction work had been underway on a plot behind the temple for the past three to four months, during which a large pit had been excavated to a depth of roughly 25 feet. Days of continuous rainfall caused the pit to fill with water, gradually weakening the foundation of the adjacent three-storey structure until it gave way overnight.
Follow Dharmic News for more updates on temple affairs and Hindu community issues.
