MOHALI: An 11-year-old boy was killed and four others injured after a roof collapsed on a family sleeping in their room in Derabassi in the early hours of Sunday.
The victim has been identified as Harjit Singh. The injured are Ram Kumar (35), his wife Deeta Devi (30) and their children Amit (8) and Adisha (7). All are under treatment at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, Chandigarh. The incident occurred after midnight.
Derabassi sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Kuldeep Singh Bawa said the family was aware that the ‘kutcha’ roof had weakened and were planning to get repairs conducted. Bawa said the injured were taken to civil hospital, Derabassi, from where doctors referred them to GMCH, where the boy succumbed despite undergoing an operation. He said, “The other children sustained minor injuries and were discharged after treatment. An elderly woman had a narrow escape as she was sleeping outside.”
Bawa said the deputy commissioner (DC) has sought a report and action would be taken after the cause of collapse was known. A rescue team reached the spot but neighbours had till then evacuated the trapped family members from the debris and shifted them to a hospital.
Apart from the officials of the administration, local leaders also reached the site and assured the family of support. Deepinder Singh Dhillon of Congress said he would seek compensation for the injured from chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh.