Nine children died in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district after a wall collapsed on them during a religious event on Sunday. The incident happened between 8.30 am and 9 am in Shahpur village under Rehli assembly seat.
The deceased have been identified as Dhruv Yadav (12), Nitesh Patel (13), Ashutosh Prajapati (15), Prince Sahu (12), Parv Vishwakarma (10), Divyansh Sahu (12), Dev Sahu (12), Vansh Lodhi (10) and Hemant (10), according to officials.
#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh Minister Govind Rajput says, "The administration is actively working. We all are present here. The CM has announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh for the family of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for those injured. I have asked the collector Sagar to work… https://t.co/lVG8QcKHkJ pic.twitter.com/qbKs2OHdOF
— ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2024
Two other children have been injured in the accident and rushed to a nearby hospital. They are said to be out of danger.
Officials said the wall collapse was caused by heavy rains which lashed the area on Saturday evening. The children, who gathered to attend a religious event, were reportedly inside a tent put up near the dilapidated house.
Local BJP MLA and former minister Gopal Bhargava told reporters that the wall collapsed and the children got crushed under the tent and debris. "Several of the deceased were the only child of their parents," Bhargava added. Two children died on the spot while seven others succumbed on way to the hospital or on reaching the medical facility.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over the incident and announced financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased. CM Yadav in a post on X said, "I am saddened to hear the news of 9 innocent children dying after the collapse of the wall of a dilapidated house due to heavy rains in Shahpur of Sagar district. I have directed the district administration to provide proper treatment to the injured children."
He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the other children injured in the incident. "The families of the deceased children will be given financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each by the government," the CM stated.
