Bageshwar Dham Tragedy: One Dead, Eight Injured In Tin Shed Collapse During Dhirendra Shastri Birthday Event

A devastating accident at Bageshwar Dham in Chhatarpur, MP, left one devotee dead and eight injured when a tin shed collapsed amidst heavy rain during celebrations for Dhirendra Shastri's birthday.

Tragedy at Bageshwar Dham (ANI)

A festive occasion turned tragic at Bageshwar Dham in Chhatarpur district on Thursday, when a tin shed collapsed, killing one devotee and injuring eight others. The incident occurred as pilgrims gathered to celebrate the birthday of Bageshwar Dham's spiritual leader, Dhirendra Shastri.

Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh: District Hospital Dr. Naresh Tripathi says, "The injured person was brought from Bageshwar Dham in a critical condition and has passed away. A post-mortem was conducted today. According to the police records, Shyamlal Kaushal died due to being crushed… https://t.co/4QshRvG1UL pic.twitter.com/AKqe1G17LT

— IANS (@ians_india) July 3, 2025

According to initial reports, heavy rain throughout Thursday morning led many devotees to seek shelter under the large tin shed. The collapse of the structure caused panic and a stampede, leading to the casualties.

The deceased has been identified as Shyamlal Kaushal (50), a resident of Basti district, Uttar Pradesh. His body has been sent to the district hospital for postmortem examination. All eight injured individuals were admitted to the district hospital for treatment.

Police and administrative teams promptly arrived at the scene to initiate rescue and relief operations, ensuring the injured received immediate medical attention.

Eyewitnesses recounted a scene of chaos at around 7:30 AM as the rain intensified and dozens of worshippers ran towards the cover. The building supposedly collapsed under the weight of accumulating rainwater, causing metal beams and pillars to buckle and collapse.
The name of the deceased has not been made public. One of the injured is said to be in a critical condition, having already received a CT scan. Most of the devotees who had come for the religious ceremony had traveled from different regions of Uttar Pradesh.

Among those injured was Ghanshyam Lodha, a Madhya Pradesh pilgrim from Guna district, who had gone there explicitly to mark Dhirendra Shastri's birthday. Mr. Lodha said more than 50 individuals were beneath the shed when the rain poured heavily, resulting in leaks. He described how the pipes and beams yielded to pressure, and the whole structure caved in.

The authorities have launched an investigation into the accident.