1 dead as part of temple ceiling collapses

Trichy: A woman devotee died and two others were injured in the wee hours of Sunday when a part of the ceiling wall collapsed at the Samayapuram Arulmigu Mariamman temple hall.The deceased was identified as M Nathiya, 32, from Thiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district. Two others, S Ranjani, 35, from Thanjavur, and her daughter S Paviksha, 14, sustained injuries. Sources said the devotees had reached Samayapuram in the early hours and were sleeping inside an RCC mandapam on Sannidhi Street. Around 12.30am, a portion of the ceiling collapsed and fell on them.Nathiya died on the spot while Ranjani and Paviksha were critically injured. On receiving information, Samayapuram police and officials rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to MGMGH. Nathiya's body was also taken to the same hospital for postmortem. A case has been registered, and Samayapuram police have launched an investigation. Temple joint commissioner Suryanarayan also visited the spot and took note of the incident.