Caught on camera: Stage collapses at Delhi's Kalkaji temple during event, 1 dead

One woman died, and 17 others were injured after a stage inside Kalkaji Mandir in Delhi collapsed during a ritual ceremony on Saturday midnight. Police said the woman was rushed to the hospital by two people in an auto, but she was pronounced dead upon arrival. Efforts are underway to identify the woman.

The injured people were admitted to AIIMS Trauma Centre, Safdarjung Hospital and MAX hospital. The condition of them, including some who received fractures, are stable now.

The incident happened at midnight on Saturday during 'Jagarana' or 'Jagrata' - a Hindu ritual comprising all-night vigils, songs, dances and worship for the veneration of the deity - at the temple. Several people climbed on the stage after they got excited when famous Indian singer and music producer B Praak was performing at the event. The stage failed to bear the overwhelming weight and collapsed as a result.

Southeast Delhi DCP Rajesh Deo told India Today that the organisers increased the scale of the event, which has been happening at the Kalkaji Mandir for 26 years. He added that there was a gathering of nearly 1,500 to 1,600 people at around midnight on Saturday, and no permission was granted for holding the event. Rajesh Deo, however, noted that sufficient police forces were deployed at the temple premises to maintain law and order.

Deo further said that an elevated platform was created near the main stage inside the temple for the seating arrangements of families of organisers and VIPs. The platform was made with wood and iron frame. Following the incident, some devotees who were sitting underneat the platform got injured.

A case under Sections 337, 304A, 188 under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against the organisers of the event.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed grief over the incident by taking to X.

"The accident that happened last night during the Jagran of Kalkaji temple is very sad. A woman has died in the accident. May her soul rest in peace. I wish for the speedy recovery of the 17 injured people. I appeal to all the people of Delhi to take special care of the security standards in any kind of big event and make arrangements in such a way that no untoward incident happens," his tweet, roughly translated from Hindi, read.

B Praak also issued a statement, expressing condoling the incident. In a video on his official Instagram handle, he termed the incident "extremely unfortunate" and said it is the "first time something like this" happened in front of him. "I'm deeply saddened by it," B Praak further said in the video message.