In Gwalior, a minor car driver wreaked havoc for about 300 meters with a car fitted with black film, colliding with 10 vehicles and injuring 15 people. Traffic police officers dangled from the bonnet, and the police arrested the minor.
Dhanbad: A heart-wrenching incident came to light on Thursday morning in the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand. Here, a dilapidated, vacant BCCL (Bharat Coking Coal Limited) quarter collapsed during the rain, trapping six children. Three children died in the accident, while three others are critically injured. All the injured have been admitted to Shaheed Nirmal Mahato Medical College and Hospital (SNMMCH).
Children Trapped in Collapse of Dilapidated House in Jharia
According to local sources, the accident occurred in Area 4 of Lodna OP area in Jharia. The children are reported to be between 8 and 10 years old. At the time of the incident, the children were playing near a vacant BCCL quarter at Lodna 8 number. It suddenly started raining, and to escape the rain, the children took shelter in the dilapidated house. However, fate had it that the roof of the house suddenly collapsed, and all the children were trapped beneath it. The house was already in a very dilapidated condition and was not maintained by BCCL. Villagers stated that if these dilapidated houses had been safely demolished earlier, this accident could have been averted.
Children Rescued by Locals and JCB Machine
Upon receiving information about the accident, local residents rushed to the spot and made strenuous efforts to rescue the children. A JCB machine was brought from nearby to clear the debris, and the children were safely pulled out. The injured were immediately admitted to SNMMCH hospital, where doctors declared three children dead. A scene of chaos and distress prevailed at the site. People were filled with anger and fear. The villagers held the BCCL management responsible, stating that the accident was a result of administrative negligence.
Details of Deceased and Injured Children
Among the three children who died in the accident, two are boys and one is a girl. The condition of the injured is reported to be serious, and their treatment is ongoing. Doctors stated that if the rescue had not been timely, the number of injured could have increased.
Local residents are also angry that BCCL has not ensured the safety and security of these vacant, dilapidated houses for so many years. People have demanded that BCCL regularly inspect such houses and ensure that no child's life is endangered in the future.
Police and MLA Assure Compensation
Upon receiving information about the incident, local police and Jharia MLA Ragini Singh also arrived at the scene. They met the affected families, offered condolences, and instructed for the proper treatment of the injured. The MLA stated that the victim families would be provided with adequate compensation and concrete steps would be taken to prevent such incidents in the future. The police indicated the possibility of legal action against the responsible BCCL officials and for compensation in connection with the incident. The administration appealed to the villagers to stay away from dilapidated and vacant buildings, especially during the monsoon season.
