Puri, July 17: A portion of the boundary wall of Shwetaganga, one of the five sacred ponds of Srikshetra, collapsed on Thursday night due to heavy rainfall. A 25-foot stretch of the wall on the western side reportedly gave way at around 8:35 pm.

The collapse occurred near an area where two minor boys were reportedly present moments earlier. According to eyewitnesses, the boys moved away from the spot shortly before the wall suddenly collapsed.

The incident caused damage to parts of the ancient structure surrounding Shwetaganga. Soil and stones from the collapsed section fell into the pond, while the electricity supply in the area was disrupted due to damage to nearby electrical infrastructure. The western side of the pond remained without power, raising concerns among local residents about the danger posed by exposed electric wires.

The old wall is believed to have weakened due to continuous rainfall and water seepage. The incident has raised safety concerns as a large number of devotees are visiting Shwetaganga during the ongoing Rath Yatra period. Despite the deployment of firefighters to assist with safe bathing arrangements, locals said there is a need for better regulation and security measures around the pond.

Residents have urged the administration to take immediate steps to repair the damaged wall and ensure the safety of devotees visiting the historic site. They warned that if the collapse had occurred during the daytime, people bathing in the pond could have been trapped under the debris.