Jammu, Oct 17: The 200-year-old historic Ranbireshwar Temple in Jammu was damaged due to heavy rainfall and severe lightning on Tuesday. Officials reported that the front portion of the temple collapsed in the morning, following incessant rains over the past two days.
Eyewitnesses described how lightning struck the front portion of the temple at around 9 am, leading to its collapse. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries or loss of life.
Ashok Kumar Sharma, the secretary of the Dharmarth Trust, which manages the temple, confirmed the incident. He stated that the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team quickly responded to the scene and initiated debris clearance.
The Ranbireshwar Temple is an ancient and historically significant religious site in Jammu, originally constructed by Maharaja Ranbir Singh in 1883. The portion that collapsed was an integral part of the temple, dating back 200 years.
In response to the urgent situation, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has instructed the management committees of various religious structures, including temples, Gurudwaras, mosques, and churches in Jammu, to conduct safety audits.
“We have asked all the management committees of temples, gurudwaras, mosques, churches and other religious places to conduct a safety audit,” the JMC Mayor said, adding, “If anyone fails to do so, we will declare that building/structure as unsafe”.
