Haridwar’s Har ki Pauri, the wall that demarcates the boundary between Haridwar and the sanctum sanctorum of the Brahamkund collapsed due to a lightning strike on Tuesday. This wall was built in 1935 in the British period and was struck by lightning, triggering its fall. The fall led to a scattering of debris up to the Ganga Sabha office.
Locals arrived at the spot after hearing the loud explosive sound, though there were no casualties, since this happened early in the morning.
Hindustan Times reported that Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad and Ganga Sabha have demanded an inquiry into this incident at this ancient religious place in the context of the structural strength of the wall housing a pilgrimage thronged by millions every day. “Akhada Parishad demands an inquiry into this incident as Har-Ki-Pauri is a place where thousands of people arrive on a daily basis. Mahakumbh is just five months away so construction of a stronger outer wall and related infrastructure works should be carried out in such a manner that safety of pilgrims and Har-Ki-Pauri personnel is ensured, “said Mahant Narendra Giri, president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad.
Meanwhile, local priests have interpreted the collapse as a bad omen, and an expression of fury by Mother Ganges, and claim that Ganga Maa was “upset” about devotees being denied permission to bathe in the Ganges on auspicious occasion of Somwati Amavasya.