Roof collapse: 4 of family buried under debris, rescued

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 20

Four members of a family had a narrow escape after the roof of their house collapsed in Mullechak village due to heavy rain that lashed the city from early morning to afternoon on Tuesday. The victims were identified as Sukhwinder Kaur (45), Situ (20), Komal (13) and Akashdeep Singh (15), who got buried under the debris. They were pulled out by the residents of the village.

According to information, Shamsher Singh, a sewerman with the MC, was residing with his family in a rented accommodation at Bhai Veer Singh Colony, near Mulechak village. The house was in poor condition and the roof was built of wooden logs, which collapsed due to rain.

All four family members, who were inside the room, were buried under the debris. After the loud bang, people of the village gathered around the house and started with the rescue operation. According to eyewitness Harjeet Singh, all four family members who were trapped under the debris were pulled out within half an hour. They have received minor injuries and been admitted to a nearby hospital.

Baljit Singh, a resident of Mullechak, said Beera Singh of the village had given his house on rent to Shamsher. Singh is a daily wager in the Sewerage Department of the Municipal Corporation.

On Tuesday morning, Shamsher had gone to work and his house collapsed around 12 o’clock. Area residents informed the fire brigade and police about the incident.

Village residents have appealed to the government to provide financial assistance to the victim’s family.

Meanwhile, heavy rain lashed the city. The rainwater accumulated on roads exposing MC’s preparedness for the monsoon. The sewer lines remained choked in several low lying areas of the city till the evening.