Post News Network
Ranpur, April 14: In a shocking incident, a priest was killed and two others rendered critical after the newly constructed structure of a temple at Balabhadrapur under the block in Nayagarh district caved in Tuesday.
Victim was identified as Babaji Sudarshan Das (62) while the two injured are Babaji Muralidhar Das (60) and Antaryami Das (55) of Brundabanbihari temple in the village. Sudarshan died on the spot. On being informed police rushed to the spot and sent the body for post-mortem. An investigation into the incident has also been launched.
The tragic incident occurred at a time when the whole state was celebrating the Oriya New Year as well as Maha Vishuba Sankranti in various religious shrines.
The injured monks were rescued by the villagers and rushed to the Ranpur hospital for treatment. Doctors stated that their condition is critical.
Sources said Brundabanbihari temple in Balabhadrapur village is a famous religious shrine in the area and is also visited by residents neighbouring Baghamari and Bhagabanpur villages. The incident occurred in afternoon when the three monks were carrying out construction works of a separate temple in front of the original shrine.
They had piled up sandstones and were plastering it with mortar when the wall on which Sudarshan had climbed over collapsed with a thud. Sudarshan was buried under the debris and was killed while Muralidhar and Antaryami assisting him received critical injuries.
