Officials stated that six out of the seven idols of the Saptarishi installed at the Mahakal Lok corridor in Ujjain city, Madhya Pradesh, have collapsed and sustained damages as a result of strong winds.Image: TwitterFollowing the incident on Sunday, Congress party has been seen criticising the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state. The opposition has alleged corruption in the project and called for an investigation into the alleged “sub-standard” quality of construction.In October of last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the initial phase of the Mahakal Lok corridor project.Image: TwitterAccording to officials, there were no injuries in the incident that occurred on Sunday around 4 pm, despite a significant number of visitors being present at the site at that point of time.Ujjain Collector Kumar Purshottam confirmed that out of the 160 idols installed at the Mahakal Lok corridor, six idols of the Saptarishis (seven sages), which were approximately 10 feet tall, fell down at around 4 pm due to strong winds in the area.Following the incident, the corridor was promptly closed. However, it was reopened at 7 pm, and once again, a significant number of visitors flocked to the site, as per the statement.He mentioned that the idols that were harmed were not found within the Mahakaleshwar temple itself but rather in the Mahakal Lok corridor constructed around it. He further stated that efforts will be made to repair and restore these idols.Kamal Nath, State Congress chief and former Chief Minister, has formed his own investigation committee consisting of seven members, including five current MLAs from the state.In a tweet, it was expressed, “When the previous Congress government took a vow to construct a magnificent Mahakal temple complex in Ujjain, they couldnt have anticipated the grave irregularities that would occur during the construction of Mahakal Lok by subsequent administrations. The sight of deity idols falling to the ground due to the storm in the Mahakal Lok complex is deeply distressing for any religious individual. I urge the Chief Minister to promptly replace the fallen idols in Mahakal Lok with new ones, and ensure that those responsible for substandard constructions are held accountable following an investigation.”भगवान महाकाल समस्त हिंदू समाज की आस्था का केंद्र हैं। जिस तरह से महाकाल लोक में सप्त ऋषि की मूर्तियां गिरी और अब अन्य देव प्रतिमाओं को नुकसान पहुंचने के समाचार भी सामने आ रहे हैं, वैसे में शिवराज सरकार का रवैया पूरी तरह मामले की लीपापोती करने का नजर आ रहा है।मामले की स्वतंत्र और…— Kamal Nath (@OfficeOfKNath) June 1, 2023In a tweet, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh stated, “There is no scheme untouched by corruption when it comes to the BJP. Poor-quality construction was carried out during Ujjains Mahakumbh, and now the Mahalok corridor, built with a budget of Rs 750 crore, has been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”अब महाकाल मंदिर का कलश भी अपने आप गिर गया!! बिना हवा के झोके के!! और कितना प्रमाण दें @PayCM Mr 80% के भ्रष्टाचार के हमारी माँग है ठेकेदार को गिरफ्तार करो। @INCMP @OfficeOfKNath @CMMadhyaPradesh #MahakalTempleScam https://t.co/TbXUiOfiBH— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) June 2, 2023According to MP Home Minister Narrotam Mishra, he stated, “The Congress party is now limited to Twitter and TV. They never provide assistance. Did you witness Kamal Nath visiting even a single location during the Covid period Did Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh distribute ration or medicines The damages incurred were a result of a natural disaster and will be compensated by the relevant authorities.”The overall expense for the Mahakal Lok project amounts to Rs 856 crore, with the initial phase accounting for Rs 351 crore.Since its beginning, both the Congress and BJP have been engaged in a conflict, disputing over who should be credited for the project.CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan attributed the inception of the project to his government, stating that it was conceptualized in 2017 with a budget of Rs 95 crore. On the other hand, Kamal Nath claimed that his government drew the blueprint for the Mahakal Temple and allocated Rs 300 crore for it in August 2019.Merely a week after being inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Ujjains Congress MLA Mahesh Parmar filed a complaint with the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta, accusing financial misconduct in the construction. Consequently, notices were sent to 15 officials in response to the allegations.The corridor, claimed to be among the longest in the nation, passes through the revived old Rudrasagar lake as a component of the redevelopment initiative surrounding the Mahakaleshwar temple. The Mahakaleshwar temple is recognized as one of the 12 jyotirlingas in the country.Spanning over 900 meters, the corridor showcases over 108 exquisitely crafted pillars made of intricately carved sandstone, portraying the Anand Tandav Swaroop (a dance form of Lord Shiva). Additionally, the corridor features 200 statues and murals depicting Lord Shiva and goddess Shakti.
