At least four people, including an Indian-origin man, were killed after a Hindu temple under construction collapsed in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. The incident occurred on Friday at the New Ahobilam Temple of Protection, located on a steep hill in Redcliffe, north of eThekwini, while expansion work was underway.

The collapse happened as workers were on site, causing a section of the structure to give way and trapping several people beneath tonnes of rubble. Authorities said the exact number of workers and temple officials who may still be trapped remains unclear. 

Two deaths, a construction worker and a devotee, were confirmed on Friday. On Saturday, rescue teams recovered additional bodies, taking the death toll to four. One of the victims was identified as Vickey Jairaj Panday, an executive member of the temple trust and the manager of the construction project.

Local media reported that Panday had been closely involved in the development of the temple since construction began nearly two years ago. His death was confirmed by Sanvir Maharaj, director of Food for Love, a charity associated with the temple.

Rescue Operations Hampered By Weather

Rescue efforts continued for nearly two days, with emergency teams working amid unstable debris and difficult terrain. Reaction Unit South Africa spokesperson Prem Balram said rescuers had located what was believed to be a fifth body but were forced to suspend operations on Saturday afternoon due to inclement weather.

“At this stage, it cannot be confirmed whether additional individuals remain trapped beneath the rubble,” Balram said. Initial rescue efforts were guided by mobile phone calls from one of the trapped individuals, but the calls stopped by late Friday evening.

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Illegal Construction Under Investigation

The eThekwini municipality said preliminary findings indicated that the temple was being built without approved plans, rendering the construction illegal. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse.

The temple was designed to resemble a cave-like structure using rocks brought from India and stones excavated on site. The builders had claimed it would house one of the world’s largest deities of Lord Nrsimhadeva. 

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Thulasizwe Buthelezi visited the site on Saturday and pledged that rescue operations would continue for as long as necessary. He thanked government and private rescue teams, including a specialised dog unit from the Western Cape, for their efforts despite experts warning that the chances of finding further survivors were slim.

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