Ludhiana: An elderly man died, while a 4-year-old girl had a miraculous escape when the duo fell off the third floor of a building in Amritsari Colony of Kanganwal area on Friday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Sham Narayan, 62, a labourer from Uttar Pradesh and the girl as Amrita. Sham Narayan and the toddler, along with her parents, lived in the same accommodation for labourers.
According to eyewitnesses, the girl fell on the balcony of the second floor, while the elderly man fell on the road and died on the spot. The girl sustained minor injuries and was discharged from the hospital after first aid.
Shivji, father of Amrita, said Sham Narayan lived alone in the labour quarters and would often play with the children living in the building. He was quite attached to Amrita and would daily take her out or play with her. On Friday morning also, Sham Narayan took Amrita to the rooftop. Some other children were also playing there and flying kites.
The eyewitnesses said Sham Narayan had taken Amrita in his lap and was watching the kites in the sky when he suddenly lost balance and fell off the roof along with Amrita, he said.
“On seeing this, the other children raised an alarm, after which we took them to a nearby hospital. Amrita is fine but Sham Narayan died,” added Shivji.
SHO at Sahnewal police station sub-inspector Balwinder Singh said Sham Narayan was living in Ludhiana alone and his family was in his hometown. The police have contacted the kin of Sham Narayan and they are on their way to Ludhiana.