Shivaji Gopuram, one of the main entrances to the Srisailam Temple, which was said to have built by emperor Shivaji, has caved in on Wednesday morning, which left so many devotees in pain and shock. The officials have said that this gopuram was caved in due to the incessant rains for the past few days.  Notably, the legend has it that this gopuram was built between 12 and 14 centuries. The state government for the first time repaired this heritage structure in 1965.

It has to be mentioned here that a special committee, which was set up in 2010, to examine the condition of heritage structures and ancient temples in the state, proposed to the government that Shivaji Gopuram should be repaired. Although the temple authorities in 2011 conducted special prayers from bringing down the gopuram and constructing a new one, the measures were not implemented and finally Shivaji Gopuram collapsed.

(AW Phani)