Nagpur: Seventeen labourers were injured, two critically, when the centering structure for a new entrance gate at Koradi Temple collapsed on Saturday night. The incident occurred around 8 pm during ongoing construction work at the temple premises.

According to officials, the injured were rushed to Max Healthcare and Nandini Hospitals, where they remain under treatment. Nagpur District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar confirmed that no fatalities occurred, dismissing rumours of deaths at the site.

The grand entrance gate is being built at the rear of the temple under a tourism development project by the Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA). The temporary centering was supporting slab casting over four prepared columns when it suddenly gave way, trapping workers beneath.

Local residents managed to rescue nine workers before emergency teams arrived. Zone 5 Deputy Commissioner of Police Niketan Kadam, Koradi Police, and a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) unit were deployed to carry out rescue and debris-clearing operations, which continued late into the night amid fears that more labourers could be trapped.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse.