Family's dream temple ends in tragedy

THE KwaZulu-Natal government has called for a review of building practices in light of climate change after a section of a temple owned by a prominent Durban family collapsed in Verulam yesterday, killing one person and trapping several others beneath the rubble.

Rescue workers spent the afternoon racing against deteriorating weather after an extension under construction at the New Ahobilam Temple of Protection gave way just after midday. Several people, many believed to be construction workers, were buried in the collapse, along with temple owner Vick Panday. By 5pm, emergency services confirmed that 11 people, two women and nine men, had been rescued and transported to hospital, with rescue operations expected to continue throughout the night. By late last night Panday was still trapped under the rubble.

KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer said the city had been buffeted by unusually strong winds over the past two days. While he stressed that it was too early to directly link the collapse to the weather, he said the incident highlighted the need to review construction methods and building safety standards in a time of shifting climate patterns.

“Durban has seen extremely high winds over the last 48 hours, and while that may not have caused this tragedy, climate change must be taken into consideration when buildings are erected,” he said. “Changes in wind patterns, storms, and rainfall should all inform how we build and update safety regulations. We must be stricter with contractors and builders to ensure all safety protocols are followed.”

Meyer said the provincial government would support the eThekwini Municipality as officials investigate the cause of the collapse. A formal probe is expected to examine the structure’s engineering plans, whether the addition met regulatory requirements, and if safety measures were properly followed during construction.

The temple expansion formed part of a long-held act of devotion by Vick and his brother Viresh Panday, who built the temple in honour of the Hindu deity Lord Nrsimhadeva. Members of the Panday family gathered at the scene yesterday afternoon  waiting anxiously for word from rescuers working along a steep road on the River Range Ranch in the Redcliffe area.

“Vicky is trapped under the rubble. Viresh was not on site,” a family member told the Independent on Saturday. She confirmed that the main temple hall was not affected, with the collapse limited to an addition constructed on the side of the building.

Rescue workers said some of the trapped individuals had managed to send WhatsApp voice notes to friends and relatives, pleading for help. Private security company Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), which responded to the scene, said four new floors under construction had collapsed onto part of the primary structure.

“It collapsed while they were pouring ready-mix concrete,” RUSA spokesperson Prem Balraj said. The organisation deployed a drone to conduct an aerial assessment of the damage while rescue teams worked below.

One contractor told the media he was "very relieved" that he survived the accident after he and two colleagues went to the temple site to work on a quote and were caught in the drama. 

The Provincial Disaster Management Centre coordinated the emergency response after reports of the collapse surfaced shortly after 12.40 pm.

A multi-disciplinary team of firefighters, medics, and search-and-rescue personnel was dispatched to the site. Heavy machinery, including an excavator, was used to remove large slabs of concrete to access those trapped, while hydraulic rescue tools such as the jaws of life were deployed to free survivors pinned beneath debris.

National Public Works & Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson, along with several provincial MECs, is expected to visit the site this morning to assess the situation and meet with rescue teams and the affected family.

The New Ahobilam Temple of Protection opened in 2023 and quickly became a pilgrimage site, drawing thousands of devotees from around the world. Its distinctive design was intended to mirror a sacred cave in Ahobilam, India, where devotees believe Lord Nrsimhadeva once appeared.

At the time of the temple’s opening, Panday told the Independent on Saturday: “Nrsimhadeva appeared in a cave in Ahobilam in South India, so the temple should resonate with where he appeared and how he appeared.”

The temple stands on the River Range Ranch in Redcliffe, part of a property owned by the Vick and Helina Panday Family Trust, which also runs the Vrindavan Eco Village. The Panday family is known for its community work, including the Food For Love programme, which provides meals to vulnerable communities and organisations in the area.

As rescue efforts continued into the night, questions about construction safety, especially in the light of the building collapse in George about a year ago in which several people had died.