9 children killed in wall collapse in MP's Sagar

Bhopal: Nine minors, aged 10-15 years, were on Sunday killed and four others injured when the wall of a house collapsed in the village of Shahpur under Rehli Assembly constituency in Sagar district, a senior officer said.

The tragedy occurred when the wall of a dilapidated house collapsed burying several children, gathered under a tent in the premise of the adjoining temple to participate in a religious event called ‘Parthiv Shivling Nirman’ (making Shivling out of clay), under the debris.

“Nine children died in the incident while some others were injured. All the debris has been removed”, Sagar district collector Deepak Arya said.

The children were sitting under a tent when the wall of the house collapsed due to rain, Mr Arya said.

Two children died on the spot, while seven others succumbed to injuries on the way to the hospital.

Official sources said that four children who were rescued from the debris were injured and admitted to the nearby hospital.

They were out of danger now.

The incident took place at around 8.30 am.

According to eyewitness accounts, the religious event was being held in Hardul temple in the village on the occasion of the month of Shrawan of Hindu calendar.

Sunday being a holiday, many children in the village participated in the event.

The deceased minors have been identified as Dhruv Yadav (12), Nitish Patel (13), Asutosh Prajapati (15), Prince Sahu (12), Parv Viswakarma (10), Divyans Sahu (10), Devraj Sahu (8), Vans Lodhi (10) and Hemant (10).

Chief minister Mohan Yadav expressed shock and sorrow over the tragic incident and announced a compensation of Rs four lakh each to the next kin of the deceased and a financial assistance of Rs one lakh each for the injured.

Taking to X, Mr Yadav said that the house was earlier marked as dilapidated by the local civic body, but it was not informed to the local administration for necessary action by officials concerned.

He placed the local chief municipal officer (CAO) Dhananjay Gumasta and sub-engineer Vikram Singh under suspension for dereliction of duty.

Mr Yadav ordered the state administration to make a survey of dilapidated houses across the state and take necessary action.

He cautioned that any lapses in the area would not be tolerated.

This was the second such tragedy witnessed in Madhya Pradesh in the last 24 hours.

Four children and a woman were killed when the wall of a house collapsed close to a school in Gada Kasbe area in Rewa district.