A minaret of the historic Shahi Masjid in Ujjain collapsed onto the mosque on Thursday while a three-foot section of the structure was being removed, damaging two floors of the building, according to the mosque committee.
The committee alleged that police and local administration officials rushed the work and failed to allow sufficient time for the structure to be dismantled safely.
The incident occurred when a contractor used heavy machinery to remove the three-foot section, the committee said. Debris fell onto the mosque, causing the minaret to topple and crash onto the structure below, it said.
Members of the Shahi Masjid committee told Millat Times they had sought eight days from Ujjain Collector Roshan Singh to carry out the work cautiously, but their request was not accepted.
“We had specifically sought eight days from the collector to ensure the process was handled with due caution. Our plea was not considered,” a committee representative told Millat Times.
The committee alleged that the decision to proceed with the work in haste and use heavy machinery without adequate preparation contributed to the collapse.
The collapse damaged two floors of the mosque and rendered the affected portions unusable, according to the committee. No injuries were immediately reported, while officials were assessing the extent of the structural damage.
Ujjain Collector Roshan Singh said repair work on the damaged portion of the mosque had begun. Officials were present at the site and monitoring the situation.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the Shahi Masjid. On Wednesday, nine arrested accused were produced before a district court, which sent them to judicial custody until Oct. 12.
Police personnel remained deployed around the mosque and nearby areas on Thursday. Shops in parts of the adjoining market also remained closed.
The Shahi Masjid is of religious and historical significance to Ujjain’s Muslim community. The mosque committee has called for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the structural work and the decision to proceed despite its request for additional time.
It has also urged authorities to ensure that future work involving the mosque is carried out with adequate technical expertise and safety precautions.
Further details of the structural assessment were awaited.
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