Gujarat: Four children killed after factory wall collapses in Panchmahal

Four children were crushed to death after a compound wall of an agro factory at Chandrapura GIDC (Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation) in Halol taluka of Panchmahal district collapsed on Thursday afternoon, police said.

The victims’ families hailed from Madhya Pradesh and had migrated here to work as labourers, police said.

According to an official at Halol town police station, six people, all labourers, who resided in makeshift huts adjacent to the boundary wall of the factory, were buried under the debris of the wall, which collapsed around 2pm on Thursday.

The incident took place amid heavy rainfall, which appears to have weakened the structural integrity of the wall, leading to its collapse, said police.

Also Read: Tripura: 6, including 2 children, die of electrocution during yatra procession

Several parts of south Gujarat have received heavy rainfall in the last two days and more showers are expected.

Police said that emergency services were dispatched to the scene, where the rescuers worked to recover the bodies of the victims.

The deceased children were identified as Abhishek (4), Gungun (2), Muskan (5), and Chiriram (5).

One survivor, a 26-year-old woman, was rushed to a hospital in Vadodara for urgent medical attention, police said, adding, another survivor, a 25-year-old woman, was admitted to a hospital in Halol town.

Two more labourers were shifted to the hospital for treatment, but they were lucky to have escaped unhurt and were soon discharged, officials added.

Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched to ascertain the cause of the wall collapse, said police.