Reports emerged on June 24 that the newly constructed Ram Temple in Ayodhya is experiencing leakage in the roof of the sanctum sanctorum after the first heavy rains since its stately inauguration. Chief Priest Mahant Satyendra Das complained that the temple was flooded when priests surveyed the temple premises after the rain. The effect of water seepage was more prominent in the area where devotees stood. Pointing out that the lack of a drainage system in the sanctum sanctorum complicates the ritual bathing of the deity, Mahant Das criticized the temple committee, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra (SRJTK), for not consulting priests during construction, leading to functional problems despite the temple’s grandeur and high-profile nature.
One may recall that the Ram Temple was inaugurated on January 22, 2024, by PM Narendra Modi, who performed the main rituals of the Pran Pratishtha. It is estimated that the temple will be constructed at a cost of nearly ₹1,800 crores.
Media also started reporting with live visuals that four new routes in Ayodhya, inspired by the four Vedas, have started caving in within six months of the inauguration. Heavy rains led to significant waterlogging and sewer water infiltration, causing damage to newly constructed roads. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai alleged that the BJP has made Ayodhya a “hub of corruption” by deploying second-rate construction for electoral benefits.
How significant is the “rain and water logging episode” for the custodians of the Ayodhya Movement? Are the complaints by the Chief Priest justified or is it just one side of the story? How seriously should we take the accusations of corruption by the Congress against the BJP?
The enormous media coverage generated by the water leakage and water logging in Ayodhya was natural as it has deep political ramifications with direct impact on the reputation of those in the highest echelons of power. Water leakage in the monsoon is a routine affair in India; but from the roof of the newly constructed Ram Mandir is a “political earthquake”.
The first significant negative fallout this water leakage created is the perception of mismanagement and corruption associated with the temple’s construction and the broader redevelopment efforts in Ayodhya. The problem was the political leadership of India deliberately blended seamlessly into the Ram Mandir inauguration as if it was a state function and not one managed by a private religious temple trust. By showing that it was recreating a “Ram-Nagari” and a “Ram-Rajya”, it was also taking on the baggage of the “Chief Project Manager” of the Ram Mandir.
Thus, any negative fallout related to Ayodhya would be directed at the government. The “optics” of water leaking from the Ram Mandir roof has created a massive PR disaster for the “political” custodians of the Ram Mandir and it will take a long time to reverse this no matter how big a PR and media exercise is conducted for damage control by the establishment.
Champat Rai, General Secretary of the SRJTK denied any problems in the construction of the Ram Mandir and emphasized that everything was on track and as per plan. Regarding the water leakage concerns, he said, “Stairs have been made in both the directions, north and west, north and south, between Gun Mandap and Rang Mandap, which will go up. The stairs are built, then it will be covered when it reaches the full height. It will be on the second floor, so water will definitely come from the stairs, even after the temporary covering, it will come and it will come inside.”
The Temple Trust advised people to depend exclusively on updates about the construction of the temple from the official media of SRJTK. The trust tweeted, “Excellent arrangements have been made for the drainage of rainwater in the temple and park complex, the work of which is in progress. The entire complex has been managed for rainwater with zero water discharge outside. Recharge pits are being constructed on the campus to retain rainwater.”
Former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India and now Ram Temple Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra asserted, “There was no water leakage but the rainwater came down from the pipes fixed to install electric wires.”
The SRJTK trust accumulated thousands of crores from “Ram bhakts” for building the grand Ram temple and the government allocated vast amounts for rebuilding the infrastructure in Ayodhya. It is reported that the cost of the entire Ram Mandir plus Ayodhya project is worth ₹32000 crores with the airport requiring ₹1450 crores, and therailway station ₹724 crores. The budget for 14 Kosi Parikrama Marg is ₹1140 crores. The Ring Road on Ram Path will cost ₹700.87 crores, while the five Kosi Parikrama Marg will incur ₹4793 crores. With such massive budgetary outlays and grandiose planning, critics were justified in saying that the infrastructure in Ayodhya, including the newly built grand Ram Mandir could not withstand the first rain, resulting in waterlogging and potholes on the roads.
Senior journalists and activists from Ayodhya have pointed out that the construction and redevelopment projects, monitored frequently by high-ranking officials, were poorly executed. Quality checks were neglected, leading to severe infrastructure flaws exposed by the pre-monsoon rain. Thousands of houses and temples were flooded, causing chaos and highlighting the incompetence of the development authority.
Corruption allegations further taint the project, with claims of large-scale siphoning of funds. Contracts were often awarded to companies with no prior experience in relevant work, excluding local contractors and raising suspicions of cronyism. The development projects, such as the Ram Path and Bhakti Path, were criticized for their poor planning and execution, resulting in accidents and infrastructure failures.
The political fallout from this “water leakage” – PR disaster might become significant, with public dissatisfaction likely to spill over into the upcoming assembly elections in the state. Political opponents and critics of the government have cleverly commented that the misuse of Ram’s name for political promotion and the mismanagement of the temple’s construction could lead to divine retribution. If that turns out to be true, it may well corroborate the axiom, “Bhagwan keghar der haiandhernahihai” (There might be delay in the divine scheme of things but never injustice).