Hyderabad: Sunday’s heavy rains resulted in the death of two children while three other children, also aged below 10 years, suffered severe injuries when an old wall collapsed at 10 am in Babul Reddy nagar, under Mailardevpally police station limits.
The dead, identified as Noor Jaan (8) and Asif Parveen (3), were playing near the wall when it collapsed and killed them instantly. Meanwhile, Mohammad Ali (9), Anabiya Katoon (4) and Afridi (3), who were grievously injured, were rushed to a nearby hospital. The bodies of the two children were sent to Osmania Hospital for post-mortem.
Several migrant families from Bihar, Odisha, and other states, live in Babul Reddy nagar and work in the adjoining industrial units.
Approximately 15 families, including seven from Bihar, live in the area where the old houses may fall apart at any point of time, lamented the locals.
Bihar native Mohammad Nazim and his family came to Hyderabad five years ago. They work as labourers in a plastic company. The family was devastated by the tragic turn.
"When we left for work, the kids were playing with their grandmother. Around 10:15 am, I received a call saying that a wall had collapsed. We never expected our kids to be underneath it. Rushing home, we saw our children beneath the collapsed wall. They were dead," he said in a choked tone.
Another resident Mohammad Akbar said "Even during the last monsoon, we came across wall collapses, but we never anticipated this sort of tragedy hitting us. Today, we are terrified."
According to the city planner, Shyam Kumar, the wall was more than nine feet in height and appeared to be over 40 years old. A guava tree touches the wall where kids tie a sari to play cradle. Following the rains, the wall gave in and fell on them when they were playing, he said.
Meanwhile, assistant city planner Abdul Khader told Deccan Chronicle "all seven families residing in the area have since been relocated to a safer place. Additionally, occupants of more than eight old and vulnerable buildings, including factories, have been advised to vacate. The part of the collapsed wall connected to other houses' bathrooms and rooms was demolished with the help of a NDRF team. Access to the area has been restricted to prevent any further damage or human loss.”
He said that a case has been registered against Ameet Gupta, the owner of the house, and also the plastic factory.
Mailardevpally corporator Thokala Srinivas Reddy slammed GHMC officials, and said that "Despite multiple requests for immediate restoration works, especially around monsoon, the officials remained oblivious. This tragedy is purely because of GHMC negligence. This could have been prevented."
A case has been registered under 304A and investigation is on to ascertain reasons for the wall’s collapse, said Mailardevpally inspector P. Madhu.
