Champat Rai, the general secretary of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has denied recent reports of water leakage from the roof of the Ram temple, insisting that not a single drop of water has dripped from the sanctum sanctorum where Lord Ram Lalla is seated. Rai spoke to reporters on Wednesday, downplaying the rumors and emphasizing that there are no structural flaws in the temple. He claimed that water had dripped from a pavilion in the eastern direction in front of the sanctum sanctorum, but attributed this to ongoing construction work.
Rai explained that during the construction process, electrical conduit and junction boxes are typically installed on top of the stone roof, with the conduit brought down through holes in the roof to provide lighting to the ground floor ceiling. These conduits and junction boxes are made watertight and hidden in the surface during the flooring above. According to Rai, since the work of electricity, waterproofing, and flooring is in progress on the first floor, water entered the junction boxes and fell on the ground floor from the conduit, giving the appearance of water dripping from the roof. Once the flooring on the first floor is completed and made completely watertight, there will be no entry of water from any junction, preventing water from reaching the lower floor through the conduit.
Champat Rai (Via Champat Rai/Twitter)
Rai also highlighted the temple’s drainage system, stating that excellent arrangements have been made for rainwater drainage in the temple and rampart complex. He assured that no water-logging will occur anywhere in the temple and rampart complex, as the work is ongoing to ensure efficient drainage. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi complex has been designed to collect and recharge rainwater, with recharge pits being constructed to keep the rainwater completely inside. This innovative design allows for zero water discharge from the complex.
Despite the recent controversy, the temple remains a popular destination, with nearly 1,00,000 to 1,15,000 devotees visiting daily to have darshan of Ram Lalla. The temple operates from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with each devotee allowed one hour for darshan, walking on foot and exiting to receive prasad. Mobile phones are prohibited inside the temple to ensure smooth darshan and maintain security. Despite these measures, Rai assured that the temple remains safe and structurally sound, dismissing the claim of water leakage as unfounded.
