Death count in Indian temple tragedy rises to 35

India: The death toll in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore stepwell roof collapse incident rose to 35 on Friday and a search operation is currently underway to trace one missing person.

An official said the slab constructed on top of an ancient stepwell collapsed during a ‘haven’ programme held on the occasion of Ram Navami at the Bileshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple in the city on Thursday, plunging several devotees into the water reservoir below.

“Our search operation is nearing completion and so far, 35 bodies have been recovered from the well,” Indore District Magistrate Dr Ilayaraja T told reporters from the site of the incident.