3 killed, idols damaged in Ujjain's Mahakal Lok after thunderstorm

UJJAIN: Three people died after a severe thunderstorm accompanied by hail and lightning hit the temple town Ujjain on Sunday evening, also damaging some statues in the Mahakal Lok corridor.
A 40-year-old tailor died after a tree was uprooted in the storm and fell on his shop near Sarafa Narsingh temple. A contract worker of a discom repairing an electric line was electrocuted while another person died in a wall collapse.
More than a dozen people were injured as trees fell on vehicles due to strong winds.
There were around 25,000 devotees in Mahakal Lok when wind and rain lashed the city as footfall remains high on weekends.
They scurried to take refuge under permanent structures nearby. The sudden wind followed by lightning and hailstorm toppled six idols of the 'Sapta Rishi', which fell from the pedestals on which they were placed. Senior officials reached the spot to assess the situation.
Ujjain district collector Kumar Purushottam said, "Some idols of the Sapta Rishi fell from the pedestals due to the gusty wind. One of them was broken. We will get them fixed next week." The DC said the idols were made of Fiber Reinforced Plastic. Following instructions from chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, they would be replaced with stones. Entry of visitors to Mahakal Lok was suspended temporarily for a brief period after the storm. It will resume normally on Monday, the DC added.
Mahakal Lok was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 11, 2022. The estimated cost of the first phase of developing Mahakal Lok was Rs 419 crore. The total project cost is estimated at around Rs 850 crore.