Five officials, including two cops, suspended over Ujjain wall collapse

Five officials suspended for negligence leading to wall collapse near Mahabaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

At least five officials, including two police officers and two civic officials, were suspended on Sunday (September 29, 2024) for lapses in connection with the collapse of a wall near Mahabaleshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain.

Ujjain Collector Neeraj Kumar Singh told The Hindu that action has been taken against officials who were responsible for clearing encroachments in the area but did not perform their duties properly.

Two street vendors, Ajay Yogi, 27, and Farheen, 23, died, and two others, including a three-year-old girl, were injured after a boundary wall of the government school-turned-heritage hotel near gate 4 of the temple collapsed following incessant rains on Friday (September 27, 2024) evening. 

Handed over to M.P. Tourism a few months ago, the school was under renovation to become a heritage hotel.

Ujjain Municipal Corporation’s (UMC) Sub-engineer Gopal Boyat and anti-encroachment unit in charge Manish Bali were suspended by Commissioner Ashish Pathak. 

Dilip Bhomania, from the M.P. Home Department and deputed as a platoon commander for the temple’s security, was also suspended on the Collector’s directions.

“In connection with the death caused by the wall collapse in Ujjain, prima facie negligence was found on the part of Mahakal Police Station incharge Ajay Verma and beat incharge Sub Inspector Bharat Singh Nigwal, and hence both are suspended with immediate effect,” Ujjain Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma said.