June 10 2026, Vrindavan: A major accident was narrowly averted on Wednesday evening when a portion of an old building collapsed on devotees near the revered Banke Bihari Temple, leaving nine pilgrims injured. The incident occurred on the temple approach road during a period of heavy footfall associated with the ongoing Adhik Maas pilgrimage season.
According to eyewitnesses, devotees were gathered beneath the balcony of a nearly 40-year-old building to seek shelter from a sudden dust storm that swept through the town around 6:00 PM. At the same time, a troop of monkeys was reportedly jumping across the structure. The combined impact of strong winds and the deteriorated condition of the building caused the balcony to collapse without warning.
The fallen debris struck several pilgrims, triggering panic and chaos in the narrow lane. Local residents, police personnel, security staff, and emergency responders immediately rushed to the scene and began rescue operations. The injured were pulled from the rubble and transported to nearby medical facilities, including the District Joint Hospital and Ramakrishna Mission Hospital.
Among the injured, Lakshmi Narayan Varshney (35) from Aligarh sustained serious injuries and was later referred to a hospital in Noida for advanced treatment. The remaining eight injured devotees are reported to be out of danger.
The accident occurred approximately 200 metres from the Banke Bihari Temple. However, rescue efforts were hampered by severe congestion in the area, with ambulances facing difficulties navigating the crowded streets.
The incident has once again raised concerns regarding the safety of aging structures in the temple zone. In August 2023, a similar tragedy took place on another route leading to the temple when a dilapidated building collapsed after monkey activity, resulting in the deaths of five pilgrims. Following that incident, authorities had launched a survey to identify unsafe structures, but many vulnerable buildings remain standing.
District Magistrate C.P. Singh stated that a detailed inspection of the area would be conducted and necessary safety measures implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.
