Ayodhya: Ram temple's roof leaking after heavy showers on Saturday night, says chief priest
Ayodhya (UP), Jun 24: Water was leaking from the roof of the sanctum sanctorum at the Ram temple here after the first heavy showers since it was opened to the public, chief priest of Ram Janmabhoomi temple Acharya Satyendra Das said on Monday.
Alleging negligence in the construction of the temple, Das claimed that there was also no arrangement for the drainage of rainwater from the temple premises after the showers on Saturday midnight. He urged the temple authorities to take cognisance of the problem and take necessary corrective measures.
After the senior officials were informed about the incident of water leaking from the roof, the chairman of the temple construction committee, Nripendra Mishra, reached the temple and gave instructions to repair the roof and make them waterproof.
Rainwater was leaking from the roof directly above the place where the priest sits in front of Ram Lalla's idol and where people come for VIP darshan, the chief priest said.
Acharya Satyendra Das told reporters there was heavy leakage from the roof of the temple's sanctum sanctorum in the first heavy shower that took place on Saturday midnight.
"It is very surprising that engineers from all over the country are building the Ram temple. The temple was inaugurated on January 22. But, no one knew that if it rains, the roof will leak. It is surprising that the roof of a world-famous temple is leaking. Why did this happen?"
"Such an incident is happening in the presence of such big engineers, which is very wrong," he said.
Meanwhile, rains on Saturday night caused severe waterlogging on the Rampath road and its adjoining lanes. While sewer water entered houses in the area, the Rampath road and other newly constructed roads in Ayodhya caved in at some places.
There was waterlogging from Jalwanpura to Hanumangarhi Bhaktipath and from Tedhi Bazaar to the inner areas, locals said.
Reacting to the sewer water entering houses in the lanes of Rampath during the rain, Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi said, "I have started damage control since morning. I have deployed several teams of the municipality to remove water from the houses."
However, attempts to seek the response of top officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) did not fructify.
Meanwhile, the Congress accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of indulging in corruption in the temple construction and building of civic facilities in the temple town.
"Be it the coffin of the martyrs or the temple of God, all these have become opportunities for corruption for the BJP. Even the symbols of faith and purity in the country are just opportunities of loot for them," Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai alleged in a statement on Monday.
"It has become clear from the statement of chief priest Satyendra Das that water is leaking in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple built at a cost of crores due to the first rain and there is no proper drainage system," he said,
Rai said, "Not only this, the mask of the BJP, which was beating the drum of development of Ayodhya, has come off with the road collapsing at many places on the Rampath built at a cost of Rs 624 crore."
He alleged that the BJP has made Ayodhya a "hub of corruption by getting second-rate construction done in a hurry only to gain electoral benefits".
"The BJP has only done injustice to the people there by not giving them proper compensation," he alleged.
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Chhattisgarh: 18 school students hospitalised; locals blame nearby cement plants
Balodabazar (Chhattisgarh), Jan 22 (PTI): At least 18 students of a government school were hospitalised on Wednesday after they complained of uneasiness in Chhattisgarh’s Balodabazar-Bhatapara district, with locals blaming nearby cement plants for causing pollution, officials said.
While officials said the exact reason behind the situation was yet to be ascertained, the authorities shut down the Alternate Fuel Resources (AFR) centre at one cement plant in the area over the alleged violation of green norms. The company said it has launched an internal probe.
At least 18 students of Government Higher Secondary Girls School at Khapradih village complained of uneasiness and drowsiness following which they were shifted to the Community Health Centre in nearby Suhela, Balodabazar-Bhatapara Collector Dipak Soni told PTI.
Later, six of them were referred to different facilities, including the district hospital, he said.
Their condition was reported to be stable, he said.
Complaints were received about pollution at AFR centre of Shree Cement plant located near the school following which an inspection was carried out on the factory premises, the official said.
Prima facie, violation of anti-pollution norms was found in its operation, which involved the use of chemicals for decomposition of materials for producing fuel, the official said.
A foul smell emanating from the AFR area might have caused uneasiness among students, he said.
Officials from the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board and the Industrial Health and Safety and Labour Department have launched an investigation in the area to ascertain the exact cause behind the incident, he added.
Meanwhile, former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel claimed the students fell ill after gas leakage from two factories located near the school.
“Honourable Chief Minister ji! If you have woken up from slumber, take care of the fainting school children. Very frightening news is coming from Balodabazar. The scene is so horrifying that I cannot share it here, Baghel said in a post on X, tagging CM Vishnu Deo Sai and the CM's office.
“Due to gas leakage near Khapradih School in Suhela, the health of more than 40 children has suddenly deteriorated. Some children have fainted and some have been facing trouble in breathing. The condition of two children was critical. The rest of the children have been admitted to the hospital,” he claimed.
Students have been falling ill in the school for three consecutive days and the locals have repeatedly complained to the administration, which he said is “asleep”.
“The villagers say two big (cement) plants near the school are causing the pollution. Gas leakage is causing adverse effects on children. The smoke, chemicals and pollutants from the plants are polluting the air and affecting the children's health,” he alleged.
The management of Shree Cement said it has launched an internal probe into the matter and that it was committed to the health and well-being of nearby residents, workmen and their families.
“Shree Cement is deeply concerned about the health and well-being of the students who require medical attention and assures full support in providing necessary medical facilities. We are committed to the health and well-being of the community and take such matters with the utmost seriousness,” the plant management said in a statement.
The company strictly adheres to all statutory approvals and environmental norms, and as part of its sustainability efforts, it co-processes hazardous waste from nearby plants as an alternative fuel, “ensuring its safe disposal and preventing harm to the environment”, the statement said.
“We are also investigating this matter internally, and assure you that the health of the nearby residents, our workmen and their families remain our highest priority, and we are committed to taking all necessary actions to uphold this responsibility,” it added.
माननीय मुख्यमंत्री जी! नींद से जाग गए हों तो बेहोश होते स्कूल के बच्चों की सुध ले लीजिए. @vishnudsai @ChhattisgarhCMO
— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) January 22, 2025
बलौदाबाजार से बेहद भयावह खबर सामने आ रही है.
दृश्य इतने भयावाह है कि मैं यहाँ साझा नहीं कर सकता.
सुहेला स्थित खपराडीह स्कूल के पास गैस के रिसाव से 40 से अधिक…
🚨भयावह दृश्य
— Ayush Pandey🇮🇳 (@ayushconnects) January 22, 2025
छत्तीसगढ़ के बलौदाबाज़ार में सुहेला स्थित खपराहडीह स्कूल में बच्चे बेहोश
🔺2 की हालत गम्भीर, लगभग 40 अस्पताल में
🔺कुछ बेहोश, साँस दिक्कत
🔺स्कूल के पास संयंत्र से गैस रिसाव की खबर
🔺लगातार तीन दिन से हो रहे थे बच्चे बेहोश, शिकायत पर भी नहीं जागा प्रशासन pic.twitter.com/ImJMZooIgx
