New Delhi: In a tragic incident, seven members of a family were buried alive after a 400-year-old fort wall fell on their house in the wee hours of Thursday, a Times of India report said. The incident occurred around 3.30am in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia district.
The locals were able to rescue two persons. They were rushed to the hospital. After seven hours of rescue operation, as many as seven bodies were recovered from the rubble. Sources said neighbours rescued two people from the debris, who were then rushed to the hospital.
A loud thud was heard before the dilapidated wall came crashing down on the house. Locals said that they heard a huge noise of a crash around 3:30 am and then, they witnessed the tragedy. While trying to pull out the trapped people, they contacted the emergency services as well.
The top government officials, and the SDERF team reached the site and managed the crowd. There were complaints about delay in rescue operation and slow progress made in retrieving the bodies.
VIDEO | At least two dead and several others are feared trapped as a wall collapses in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia. Rescue work underway.#MPNews #MadhyaPradeshNews
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/rtpuyluW2Z
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 12, 2024
Big stones piled up in the debris and the narrow approach road to the site made the rescue a tough and daunting exercise. Two heavy machines and a JCB were pressed into service. It is being believed that incessant rain over the last few days weakened the wall and could be the main reason behind its collapse.
Munnalal Vanshkar, one of the rescued persons admitted to a hospital, told the media that the family was fast asleep when the wall came down. He added that they had been living at the place for the past 15 years and the constant rainfall was the main reason behind the collapse.
Hitting out at the district administration, Datia MLA Rajendra Bharti said there was no preparedness for such incidents. He demanded immediate financial help of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the victims and Rs 2 lakh each for those left injured due to the tragedy.
Known as Diwar Shahar Panha, the historic wall dated back to 1629, when it was constructed. The wall was to be razed under a ring road construction project, but encroachment near the structure had come in the way of its demolition.
