BHOPAL: Nine children, aged between 10 and 14, were tragically crushed to death and four others were critically injured at a temple when the wall of a nearby house, weakened by continuous rain, collapsed on them in Shahpur town, Sagar district of MP, on Sunday. The children were crafting earthen Shivlings when the 50-year-old wall gave way.
This marks the second such tragedy in the state within two days. On Saturday, four children, aged 5 to 7, died in a wall collapse while returning from school in Rewa district. Both incidents share the common factor of neglected, deteriorating walls posing imminent danger.
Late Sunday, CM Mohan Yadav ordered the removal of the Sagar collector, SP, and the local SDM following the collapse. He also suspended the chief municipal officer and a sub-engineer of Shahpur.
Many of the children killed in the collapse were the only child of their parents.
Over a dozen children had gathered under a tent to mold Shivlings from clay amidst a large crowd of devotees at Hardaul Baba Temple in Shahpur. Around 10am, the wall of the adjacent house collapsed on the tent, burying the children under a heap of debris.
Collector Deepak Arya, who oversaw the rescue operation, confirmed that the wall collapse was triggered by the rain. Amidst screams and cries, parents and villagers frantically dug through the rubble with their bare hands to rescue the children. The police joined the rescue effort, deploying a JCB machine.
Two children died instantly. Nine others were rushed to the hospital, but seven more succumbed to their injuries en route. The two survivors are in stable condition, according to Collector Arya.
Local Rehli MLA and former minister Gopal Bhargava, who came to oversee the rescue, mentioned that many of the victims were the only child of their parents.
CM Yadav expressed his sorrow and announced an aid of Rs 4 lakh for the family of each deceased child, adding, “I have instructed the district administration to ensure proper treatment for the injured.” The CM also ordered an immediate statewide review of all dilapidated and dangerous buildings, urging officials to take preventive actions to avoid future tragedies. “The chief municipal officer (Shahpur) and the sub-engineer were found guilty of negligence and have been suspended,” the CM posted on X.
In Rewa on Saturday, the collapsing wall that claimed the lives of four children was located barely 20 meters from their school in Garh village. Another child and the mother of one of the deceased children are in critical condition. School authorities and parents had repeatedly urged the owner of the vacant plot to demolish the wall, but no action was taken.
