Leak in Ayodhya Ram temple roof post heavy rains raises concerns

Water began leaking from the roof of the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, after the first rainfall since its public opening, as reported by chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das on June 24.

Das attributed the issue to construction negligence and highlighted the lack of a proper drainage system to manage rainwater within the temple premises following the heavy showers on Saturday night.

He urged the temple authorities to take immediate action to address these problems.

In response to the water leakage, Nripendra Mishra, the chairman of the temple construction committee, visited the site and instructed repairs and waterproofing of the roof, according to sources within the temple trust.

Mishra, while updating reporters on the construction progress, mentioned that work on the first floor is ongoing and expected to be completed by July this year, with the entire temple construction projected to be finished by December.

Acharya Satyendra Das detailed the incident to reporters, stating that the roof leaked heavily during the midnight rainfall on Saturday, with water dripping directly above the area where the priest conducts prayers in front of Ram Lalla's idol and where VIP visitors come for darshan.

"It is very surprising that engineers from all over the country are building the Ram temple. The temple was inaugurated on January 22. But, no one knew that if it rains, the roof would leak. It is surprising that the roof of a world-famous temple is leaking. Why did this happen?" he questioned.

"Such an incident is happening in the presence of such big engineers, which is very wrong," Das added.

The heavy rains also caused severe waterlogging on the Rampath road and its surrounding lanes in Ayodhya.

Sewer water entered several houses in the area, and parts of the Rampath road and other newly constructed roads collapsed in some places, locals reported.

Waterlogging affected areas from Jalwanpura to Hanumangarhi Bhaktipath and from Tedhi Bazaar to inner parts of the city.

In response to the flooding and sewer water entering homes, Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi said, "I have started damage control since morning. I have deployed several teams of the municipality to remove water from the houses."

Attempts to get a response from top officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, the Congress party accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of corruption in the temple construction and the development of civic amenities in Ayodhya.

"Be it the coffin of the martyrs or the temple of God, all these have become opportunities for corruption for the BJP. Even the symbols of faith and purity in the country are just opportunities of loot for them," Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai claimed in a statement on Monday.

"It has become clear from the statement of chief priest Satyendra Das 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," he added.

Rai further stated, "Not only this, the mask of the BJP, which was beating the drum of development of Ayodhya, has come off with the road collapsing at many places on the Rampath built at a cost of Rs 624 crore."

He alleged that the BJP has transformed Ayodhya into a "hub of corruption by getting second-rate construction done in a hurry only to gain electoral benefits" and claimed, "The BJP has only done injustice to the people there by not giving them proper compensation."