Chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das said that water leaked from the roof of the sanctum sanctorum at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, following the first heavy rains since its public opening. Das criticized the temple’s construction, noting the lack of a proper drainage system for rainwater after the downpour on Saturday night. He urged temple authorities to address these issues promptly.
According to temple trust sources, after being informed of the leakage, temple construction committee chairman Nripendra Mishra visited the site and directed repairs to waterproof the roof.
Mishra updated reporters on the temple’s construction progress, stating that the first floor would be completed by July and the entire temple by December. Das expressed surprise over the leakage, questioning the oversight of engineers involved in the project. The leak occurred above the priest’s seat, directly affecting the area where VIP visitors come for darshan.
“Astonishingly, engineers from across the country are involved in building the Ram Temple, which was inaugurated on January 22, yet no one anticipated the roof leaking during rain,” Das remarked.
Additionally, the heavy rains caused significant waterlogging on Rampath Road and adjacent lanes. Sewer water entered homes, and newly constructed roads in Ayodhya caved in at several points. Local residents reported waterlogging from Jalwanpura to Hanumangarhi Bhaktipath and Tedhi Bazaar to inner areas.
Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi said efforts were underway to manage the damage, with municipal teams deployed to remove water from affected homes. Attempts to get a response from top Public Works Department (PWD) officials were unsuccessful.
The Congress party accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of corruption in the temple’s construction and Ayodhya’s civic infrastructure. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai alleged, “The BJP sees opportunities for corruption even in symbols of faith and purity.”
Rai highlighted the chief priest’s comments about the temple roof leak and inadequate drainage. He also criticized the quality of the Rampath road, which was built at Rs 624 crore and collapsed in several places.
“The BJP has turned Ayodhya into a hub of corruption with substandard construction done hastily for electoral gain,” Rai alleged, adding that the people of Ayodhya have been unjustly treated without proper compensation.