Sun Dec 14 01:40:54 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, written from an Indian perspective, suitable for “The View From India” section of the e-paper:

Tragedy Strikes South African Temple Construction Site; Illegal Construction Blamed

Johannesburg, South Africa – December 14, 2025 – A construction site collapse at the Ahobilam Temple of Protection in Redcliffe, near Durban, South Africa, has claimed the lives of at least four people, including a key member of the temple’s management. Rescue operations were hampered by inclement weather and have now been scaled back with little hope of finding further survivors.

The four-story structure, which was under construction, collapsed onto the temple below, burying those working on the project under tons of concrete. Among the deceased is Vickey Jairaj Panday, an executive member of the temple who had dedicated himself to the project since its inception two years ago. He was also managing the construction.

The temple, intended to resemble a cave using rocks from India and those excavated from the site, aimed to house the world’s largest deity of Lord Nrsimhadeva. Construction had been underway for approximately two years.

However, authorities have revealed that the construction was being carried out without approved building plans, rendering it an illegal venture. The eThekwini municipality confirmed that no building plans had been submitted.

The incident has raised serious questions about construction regulations and oversight in the area. KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi visited the site on Saturday, vowing that rescue efforts would continue as long as necessary and expressed his gratitude for the government and private teams that helped rescue.

Initial rescue efforts were based on mobile phone calls from one of the trapped individuals, but these ceased late Friday evening.

The tragedy has resonated within the Indian community of South Africa, as the temple held significant cultural and religious importance. Further investigations are expected to determine the exact cause of the collapse and to hold those responsible for the illegal construction accountable.

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