Two women killed, eight injured as iron shuttering collapses at Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj Sahib, Amritsar

Two women devotees were killed and several others were injured at Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh in Amritsar on Sunday after heavy iron shuttering plates from an under-construction building collapsed onto them. Around eight people were injured in the incident.

The mishap occurred at around 1.30 pm, when the devotees were participating in the ‘chaupehra, a weekly congregation for reciting Gurbani hymns.

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What caused the collapse

A five-storey building, including a langar hall and car parking facility, was being constructed inside the gurdwara complex under the supervision of Sant Baba Kashmir Singh Bhuriwale.

Because it was a Sunday, a large number of devotees had gathered at the gurdwara to offer prayers. Due to intense heat, many women were sitting near the under-construction area in the shade while reciting Gurbani. At that point, heavy iron shuttering plates suddenly collapsed and fell directly onto the devotees sitting below, triggering chaos and panic inside the premises.

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Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Police Vishaljit Singh confirmed the incident. He said the iron shuttering of vehicle columns at the under-construction building accidentally collapsed onto the women devotees. He added that an investigation has been ordered into how the incident occurred.

One of the deceased women was identified as Rajrani, a resident of Sathiala village. The identity of the second deceased woman had not been confirmed at the time of reporting.

The injured were rushed to Guru Ram Dass Hospital. Those in critical condition were referred to private hospitals for further treatment.

The injured were identified as:

Rajni from Sathiala, Seema from Batala, Daljit Kaur from Ludhiana, Bavreet Kaur from Guru Ram Dass Avenue on Airport Road in Amritsar, Paramjit Kaur from Fatehgarh Churian Road, Baljeet Kaur from Moga, Manisha Dhawan from Ferozepur, Raj Kaur from Rajatal, and Kashmir Kaur from Tarn Taran.

The injured were from multiple towns and villages across Punjab, indicating the wide reach of the weekly congregation that draws devotees from far beyond Amritsar.

Police response

ADC of Police Vishaljit Singh said that police reached the spot promptly after receiving information about the incident. He confirmed the matter is under investigation and the exact sequence of events is being examined.

The gurdwara management and local authorities have not yet issued a formal statement about the state of the construction work or whether safety protocols were in place at the site.

About the Gurdwara

Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj Sahib is a historically significant Sikh shrine located in Amritsar. It is dedicated to Baba Deep Singh, a revered Sikh martyr.

The site draws thousands of devotees each week.

The ongoing construction of a new multi-storey structure within the complex was intended to expand langar hall facilities and add vehicle parking.