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Two killed as pandal for Ritambhara programme collapses

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: Two devotees were killed and 18 others injured when a portion of the pandal, erected for the Bhagwat Katha programme of Sadhvi Ritambhara at Suraj Maidan in Adarsh Nagar locality of the capital, collapsed on Sunday. The waterproof roof of the pandal reportedly caved in after the evening's squall and rain when water got collected on top of it.

The eyewitnesses, who attended the much hyped Katha programme said the accident took place around 6.15 PM after the recital by the Sadhvi was finished for the day.

The victims were those who had waited for the rains, first of the monsoon showers, to get over. All the injured, who have been admitted to the Sawai Man Singh Hospital, are said to be out of danger.

The identification of the victims-- both males-- was not made till evening. Sources at the Jawahar Nagar police station under which the Suraj Maidan area falls, said no case was registered on the tragedy till 8.30 PM. All the officers were at the site, they informed.

The Bhagwat Katha programme started here on Saturday with much hype in the attendance of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Gujarat Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma Bharatiya Janata Party State president Mahesh Sharma and Social Welfare Minister Madan Dilwar.

Ms.Raje had also participated in a Kalash Yatra taken out on Friday from Ramniwas Garden in the City to Govind-deoji temple, located in the Walled City as a prelude to the seven-day programme, sponsored by Srimat Bhagwat Gyanganga Samiti.

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