The Chhatarpur district administration has criticised the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for not installing lightning conductors at all temples at Khajuraho.
However, the ASI claimed the number of lightning conductors was sufficient for the temples which cover around 100- metre radius.
On Monday afternoon, lightning struck the famous world heritage Unesco site at Khajuraho, damaging the top part of Devi Jagadambika temple inside the Western Group of Temples. The lightning also killed a teenage girl near the temple.
Khajuraho (Rajnagar) SDM Ravindra Chouksey told HT that he visited the spot and found that only prominent and not all the temples of Western Group of Temple were fitted with lightning conductors.
He said it is the responsibility of the ASI to fit lightning conductors at all temples. The district administration will provide Rs 1 lakh compensation to the kin of the girl who died as per natural calamity norms, he said.
The Khajuraho ASI in-charge conservation assistant Rahul Tiwari said that lightning conductors are fitted on four prominent or big temples and these are sufficient to protect the area.
However, he said in the light of Monday’s incident, the matter will be probed. He said it appears the major thrust of lightning was absorbed by these conductors and its branch could have struck the girl.
{{/usCountry}}However, he said in the light of Monday’s incident, the matter will be probed. He said it appears the major thrust of lightning was absorbed by these conductors and its branch could have struck the girl.
{{/usCountry}}A team from Bhopal will reach Khajuraho on Wednesday and inspect the damage to the temple and decide how to repair it.
The team will also investigate the cause and effect of the Monday incident. The ASI has no provision to compensate the kin of the girl who died of lightning, he added.
Read:Lightning strikes heritage site in Khajuraho, damages temple