Four people were killed and around 20 devotees are feared trapped after the roof of a temple structure collapsed during construction work at the Yashwadi temple in Parbhani district, Maharashtra, on Saturday afternoon, according to officials. The incident occurred at the Yashwadi village temple, located around 190 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, when a portion of the structure in front of the sanctum reportedly gave way during ongoing construction activity.

Authorities said the slab of the temple’s sabha-mandap (outer hall) collapsed around 3:30 pm, trapping several devotees under the debris. Local police and district administration teams were immediately deployed to the site, and rescue operations were launched on a war footing. Officials said earth-moving equipment and emergency response teams were pressed into service to clear the rubble and reach those believed to be buried under the collapsed structure.

The injured have been rushed to the Parbhani District Civil Hospital for treatment, where medical teams are attending to them. Officials have not yet released detailed information on the severity of injuries, but confirmed that critical care support has been mobilised. A police official told PTI that rescue efforts are continuing and the priority remains locating and safely evacuating those still trapped. “The slab of the temple’s sabha-mandap collapsed around 3.30 pm.

Also Read: Philippines Earthquake: Residents Flee in Panic as Buildings Collapse and Tsunami Alerts Follow

The police and district administration have sent their teams, and a rescue operation is underway,” the official said. Preliminary inputs suggest that a large number of devotees were present at the site when the incident occurred, though the exact cause of the structural failure is yet to be determined. Authorities have not ruled out construction-related lapses, but a formal investigation will be initiated once rescue operations are completed.

Senior district officials are monitoring the situation closely, and additional personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth coordination of relief efforts. The area around the temple has been cordoned off to prevent further risks and to facilitate uninterrupted rescue work. As nightfall approached, efforts were intensified to locate survivors using search equipment and manual digging operations. Officials said updates on the casualty and rescue figures will be provided as the situation develops, while families of those present at the temple have gathered at the site awaiting information.

Also Read: Philippines Hotel Collapse Kills 3, Leaves 17 Missing In Major Tragedy