Roof collapse at Maharashtra temple kills 7, injures 30+

At least seven people were killed and more than 30 injured when the under-construction roof of an assembly hall collapsed at a Hanuman temple in Maharashtra's Parbhani district on Saturday, June 20, 2026. The tragedy occurred at the Yashwadi Maruti Temple in Yashwadi village during a period of heavy congregation for weekly prayers and a community feast.

The concrete slab of the sabhamandap, or outer hall, collapsed around 3:30 p.m. local time as construction work was actively underway. The structure fell onto a large group of devotees gathered in front of the temple's sanctum, trapping many beneath a heap of wet cement, iron reinforcing rods, and debris. Officials confirmed that Saturday, a day associated with worship of Lord Hanuman, typically draws a significant rush of visitors to the temple.

Emergency services, including police, fire brigade, and disaster management teams, launched a coordinated rescue operation. Local villagers were among the first to respond, using their hands and available tools to clear rubble before heavy machinery like JCB excavators arrived to assist. The injured were transported to the Parbhani District Civil Hospital and other nearby medical...