Indore: Days after 36 people died in Indore’s Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple stepwell collapse, the local administration today launched a drive to remove encroachments from the complex.  The drive was launched at the temple complex in the Patel Nagar area in presence of heavy police security. Ahead of the operation, the idols of the deities were respectfully removed from the Kantafod temple.

A large contingent of municipal and police officials reached the temple today morning. To ensure that action is carried out without any disturbance, police personnel from four police stations were deployed and the Deputy Municipal Commissioner was also present along with the District Magistrate.

Earlier on Thursday, on the occasion of Ram Navmi, a structure built over an old temple well collapsed. Dozens of people fell into the muddy water when the well’s cover collapsed. The death toll in the temple collapsed rose to 36 to Indian Army and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).