(Image source from: x.com/ShriRamTeerth)
The sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, experienced water leakage from the roof after the first significant rainfall since it was opened to the public, according to the chief priest, Acharya Satyendra Das. Expressing concern over the apparent negligence in the temple's construction, Das mentioned that there was also no proper drainage system in place to handle the rainwater on the premises after the showers late Saturday night. He urged the temple authorities to take necessary corrective actions. Following the report of the water leakage, the chairman of the temple construction committee, Nripendra Mishra, visited the site and instructed the team to repair the roof and make it waterproof. Separately, Mishra provided updates on the progress of the temple construction, stating that work on the first floor was ongoing and expected to be completed by July this year, and he expressed optimism that the entire temple will be finished by December. The priest, sitting before the idol of Ram Lalla, where devotees come for VIP darshan, expressed his surprise. He said, "It is quite puzzling that engineers from all over the country are building the Ram temple. The temple's inauguration was on January 22, yet no one anticipated the roof would leak if it rained. It is astonishing that a world-famous temple's roof is experiencing leakage. Why did this happen?"
"Such an incident occurring in the presence of these eminent engineers is highly concerning," he added. Meanwhile, the heavy rains on Saturday night led to severe waterlogging on the Rampath road and its adjoining lanes. Sewer water even flooded the nearby houses, and the newly constructed roads in Ayodhya caved in at certain points. Locals reported waterlogging from Jalwanpura to Hanumangarhi Bhaktipath and from Tedhi Bazar to the inner areas. Responding to the sewer water entering houses along the Rampath during the rain, Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi said, "I have initiated immediate damage control measures since morning. I have deployed several municipal teams to remove the water from the affected houses." However, attempts to seek a response from the top officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) were unsuccessful.
The ruling political party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been accused by the Congress party of engaging in corrupt practices during the construction of the temple and civic facilities in the holy city of Ayodhya. The Congress leader, Ajay Rai, claimed that the BJP has turned even the most sacred symbols, such as the martyrs' coffins and the temple of God, into opportunities for graft and plunder. Rai further stated that the chief priest, Satyendra Das, has revealed that the newly built Ram temple, which cost crores of rupees, is already experiencing water leaks in the sanctum sanctorum due to the first rainfall, indicating a lack of proper drainage system. Moreover, the BJP's much-touted development of Ayodhya has been exposed, as the Rampath, constructed at a cost of Rs 624 crore, has collapsed in several places. The Congress leader alleged that the BJP has transformed Ayodhya into a "hub of corruption" by rushing through the construction work, prioritizing electoral benefits over quality and proper execution. The BJP, according to Rai, has also failed to provide adequate compensation to the people of Ayodhya, further compounding the injustice done to them.
