Sitapur (UP), Sep 23 A woman was killed and eight people were seriously injured after a railing collapsed on devotees during Ganesh puja at a dharamshala here on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
The incident occurred around 12.30 pm at Punjabi Dharamshala in Arya Nagar under the Kotwali Nagar police station area, they said. A Ganesh pandal had been erected in the courtyard where devotees had gathered for the puja.
Heavy rainwater had accumulated on a tarpaulin erected in the courtyard, causing the three-storey railing, along with the tarpaulin, to collapse on the devotees, police said.
Sitapur District Magistrate Raja Ganapati said eight people were seriously injured in the incident, while a woman died. One of the injured was in a critical condition and was referred to Lucknow for treatment, he said.
The deceased was identified as Uma Kapoor, 60, police said.
The superintendent of police and other senior officials visited the spot and took stock of the situation. Police and administrative officials are investigating the circumstances that led to the collapse, officials said.
(PTI News)
