The roof of the newly constructed Ram Mandir in Ayodhya started leaking after the first heavy showers since its public opening, according to Acharya Satyendra Das, the temple’s chief priest.
Water leaked from the roof of the sanctum sanctorum at the Ram temple in Ayodhya following the first heavy showers since its public opening, according to chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das on Monday.
Das alleged construction negligence, stating there were no arrangements for rainwater drainage after the Saturday midnight showers and urged temple authorities to take corrective measures.
Upon being informed, Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the temple construction committee, visited the temple and instructed the roof repairs and waterproofing, temple trust sources said.
In a separate update on the temple’s progress, Mishra reported that the first-floor work is ongoing and expected to be completed by July, with the entire temple construction projected to finish by December.
VIDEO | "It is very surprising. So many engineers are here and the Pran Pratishtha was held on January 22, but water is leaking from the roof. Nobody would've thought this," says Ram Temple chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 24, 2024
(Full video available on PTI Videos -… pic.twitter.com/tf1zRDQ34D
Acharya Satyendra Das informed reporters that heavy rain on Saturday night caused significant leakage from the roof of the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. Rainwater was dripping directly above the spot where the priest sits in front of Ram Lalla’s idol, a prime area for VIP darshan.
“It is surprising that engineers from all over the country are involved in constructing the Ram temple, yet no one anticipated the roof would leak during rains. This is unacceptable for a world-famous temple,” he said. “Such an incident occurring under the supervision of top engineers is very wrong.”
The heavy rain on Saturday night also led to severe waterlogging on Rampath Road and adjacent lanes. Sewer water entered homes, and parts of Rampath Road and other newly constructed roads in Ayodhya caved in. Locals reported waterlogging from Jalwanpura to Hanumangarhi Bhaktipath and from Tedhi Bazaar to inner areas.
Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi responded by deploying municipal teams to clear the water from houses, stating, “I have started damage control since morning.”
Attempts to get a response from top Public Works Department (PWD) officials were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, the Congress accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of corruption in the temple construction and civic facilities in Ayodhya. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai claimed, “Be it the coffins of martyrs or the temple of God, these are opportunities for corruption for the BJP. Even symbols of faith and purity are seen as opportunities for loot.”
Rai added, “The statement of chief priest Satyendra Das makes it clear that water is leaking in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple, built at a cost of crores, due to the first rain and there is no proper drainage system. The collapse of roads on Rampath, built at a cost of Rs 624 crore, exposes the BJP’s false claims of development in Ayodhya.”
He alleged that the BJP has turned Ayodhya into a “hub of corruption with substandard construction done hurriedly for electoral gains,” and accused the party of failing to provide proper compensation to the people.
