A portion of the wall of the nearly 200-year-old Gadadhar Temple, located outside the historic Mubarak Mandi Palace heritage complex in Jammu, collapsed on Thursday following rainfall, sparking concerns among local residents and heritage conservation advocates. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident.
The temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi, was built during the reign of Maharaja Gulab Singh in the mid-19th century and is currently managed by the Dharmarth Trust. Residents said a community feast, or bhandara, had concluded just 10 to 20 minutes before the collapse, narrowly avoiding what could have been a major tragedy.
Local residents have alleged that ongoing excavation and restoration work near the shrine, including construction activities linked to the long-running restoration of the heritage complex, may have weakened the structure. They claim deep digging in the vicinity was carried out without sufficient assessment of the impact on nearby heritage buildings.
Following the incident, locals demanded a technical investigation to determine the exact cause of the collapse and urged authorities to immediately secure the surrounding area to prevent further damage. Questions have also been raised about whether adequate soil testing and structural stability assessments were conducted before excavation began.
The heritage complex, once the royal residence of the Dogra rulers, is one of Jammu's most significant historical landmarks and has been undergoing restoration for several years to preserve its architectural legacy. The site also houses the Dogra Art Museum, which showcases valuable artifacts and paintings from the region's history.
Authorities had not issued a detailed response to the allegations regarding the restoration work at the time of reporting. Meanwhile, residents and heritage activists are calling for stricter monitoring of conservation projects to ensure the protection of Jammu's historic structures.
