On Wednesday, during the Mahadeepa Ceremony on Maha Shivaratri celebrations at the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, a temple servitor accidentally slipped and fell while attempting to place the Mahadeepa at the temple’s pinnacle. Two others, including another servitor and a nearby police officer, were also injured in the incident.
The injured servitor and the two others were immediately taken to the hospital for treatment. The incident occurred when the servitor began climbing the temple around 10 AM to light the Mahadeepa. Unfortunately, he lost his footing and fell a short distance. During the fall, hot ghee spilled onto the other two individuals below, causing them injuries.
The Mahadeepa ritual, a crucial part of the Maha Shivaratri festivities, was delayed by about half an hour due to the mishap. Instead of being placed at 10 PM, it was finally positioned at approximately 10:40 PM.
Dr. Dhananjay Das, Deputy Director of Capital Hospital, reported that all the injured individuals are stable. The servitor who fell, Jogendra Samarth, is out of danger despite suffering injuries to his left leg and face. He is currently in the ICU for observation and treatment.
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Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi visited the injured at Capital Hospital, inquiring about their health and discussing their treatment. The injured servitor explained that he lost his balance, leading to the fall. The Chief Minister also met with the other injured individuals to check on their condition. On social media, he expressed his wishes for their speedy recovery. Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan and MLA Babu Singh accompanied him to the hospital.
Khordha District Collector Chanchal Rana stated that after ensuring proper medical care, an investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the incident. “Our primary focus right now is the recovery of the injured. Following that, we will discuss and investigate to find out exactly what led to the incident,” he added.
