India, Oct. 1 -- Festive mood turned to panic at Rajabagicha near Badambadi Square in Cuttack on Wednesday after a portion of the ceiling at the local puja mandap collapsed, injuring three people. The incident took place on Maha Navami, one of the busiest days of Durga Puja, when thousands of devotees had thronged pandals across the Silver City amid heavy rains and gusty winds.

According to eyewitnesses, a two-foot section of the ceiling suddenly caved in around 2 pm. The portion was reportedly supporting bamboo poles that held up the decorative front gate of the pandal.

With the added weight of the structure and the pressure from the day's heavy wind, the load became unsustainable. Debris fell directly onto devotees standing beneath, i...