Jammu, 05 June (H.S.): A portion of the wall of the nearly 200-year-old Gadadhar temple collapsed outside the Mubarak Mandi heritage complex in Jammu following rain, triggering concerns among locals who blamed the ongoing excavation and restoration work near the shrine for the collapse.

No casualties were reported in the incident.

The temple dedicated to Vishnu and Lakshmi was constructed during the reign of Maharaja Gulab Singh in the mid-19th century. It is managed by the Dharmarth Trust.

Locals said a community feast – ‘bhandara’ – was held at the temple barely 10- 20 minutes before the wall collapsed.

“By the god’s grace, no casualty was reported in the incident. Had it happened earlier, it could have resulted in a major tragedy,” Ram Magotra, a local, said, adding that the narrow lane outside the temple is frequently used by residents, including children and the elderly.

The locals alleged that excavation work being carried out as part of the longpending restoration of the Mubarak Mandi palace complex, including the construction of a parking lot, weakened the structure and contributed to the collapse.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar