Building Collapse Near Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan: 9 Injured, 4 Critical

On Tuesday evening, a balcony of a house near Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan's Gali No. 5 collapsed unexpectedly. The area was crowded with devotees at the time of the incident. The collapse left 9 people injured, with 4 reported to be in critical condition. All injured individuals were immediately taken to the hospital for treatment.

The incident occurred at the residence of Sudhir Goswami. According to a neighbor, Shivkumar, the balcony had pre-existing cracks and collapsed after monkeys jumped on it. Local residents also mentioned that strong winds were blowing at the time, which may have contributed to the collapse. Debris from the balcony spread across the lane, injuring devotees passing by.

Following the collapse, there was chaos in the area. Nearby shopkeepers and locals rushed to the site to help rescue those trapped under the debris. Police and administrative teams arrived shortly after being informed and ensured all injured were transported to the hospital.

Security measures in the temple area have been increased, with additional police deployed to manage the movement of devotees. Authorities have also initiated inspections of old and dilapidated buildings in the vicinity to prevent similar incidents in the future. The accident, which occurred approximately 300 meters from the temple, has raised concerns among devotees and locals about the safety of structures in crowded areas.