TIRUCHY: A woman died and two others, including a minor girl, were injured after plaster from the ceiling of a 15-ft high mandapam near the Samayapuram temple collapsed in the wee hours of Sunday. The deceased was identified as M Nathiya (32) from Thiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district. The injured were S Ranjani (35) from Kallaperambur in Thanjavur and her daughter, S Babikksha (14).
According to police, a group of devotees had come to Samayapuram temple on a padayatra ahead of the fourth week of the Poochorithal festival. They were sleeping in the mandapam on Sannidhi Veethi, about 50 feet away from the temple main entrance. Around 1.30 am, plaster from the ceiling collapsed on them. Nathiya died on the spot, while Ranjani and Babikksha sustained serious injuries.
Samayapuram police and temple officials sent the injured to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital by 108 ambulances. The body of the deceased was also sent to the hospital for post-mortem examination. Samayapuram police registered a case and cordoned off the area to prevent devotees’ access.
According to sources, the mandapam was built in 1986. It may be recalled that a portion of the plaster had come off the arch in June 2025. The issue was reported by TNIE on August 17, 2025, but no action was taken.
Residents and visitors said lack of maintenance contributed to the weakening of the temple infrastructure, and urged the temple administration to inspect the structure and restore it without further delay. Speaking to TNIE, a shopkeeper near the temple said, “We had already raised the issue. Although the problem has been visible for several months, no concrete action has been taken.”
When contacted, a senior HR&CE officer of the Samayapuram temple said, “We regularly obtain stability certificates from the PWD. After the incident, we have started maintenance work. We will inspect the structure and take necessary action on this issue.”
BJP leader K Annamalai in a post on X accused the state government of ignoring maintenance works. “Funds collected from devotees must be used to ensure safety. A thorough audit of temple works is needed, and stringent action must be taken against those responsible. HR&CE Minister PK Sekar Babu must be held accountable,” he stated.
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K Annamalai accused state government of neglecting maintenance works, stating that the collected funds must be used to ensure safety. He added that a thorough audit of temple works is needed and that stringent action must be taken against those responsible