Singrauli, November 10: A kutcha house caved in on a sleeping family in Barahpan village under the Kotwali police station area in Madhya Pradesh's Singrauli district on Monday night, killing three people and injuring five others, police officials said.

Source: IANS via The Freedom Press

Eight members of the family were trapped under the debris when the structure came down after the family had gone to sleep following dinner. The deceased were identified by police as Arun Vishwakarma (36) and his mother Santuliya (65), along with Arun's two-year-old daughter.

The five injured, including women and children, were pulled out of the rubble and are receiving treatment at the Baidhan local government hospital and a private hospital, officials said. Villagers and an administrative team carried out the rescue using earthmoving machines, and the bodies and the injured were recovered by around 1 a.m.

Source: IANS via AsiaPost

Cracked wall had been making noises, police say

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate and police officers reached the spot and supervised the relief efforts. According to police, the house was a two-storey traditional mud structure, and one of its walls had already developed a crack and had been making noises. The family had sensed the danger but the entire structure collapsed before they could carry out repairs the following day, police said.

Rescue teams continued working through the night to clear the debris and make sure no one remained trapped. Officials said the administration is providing necessary support to the affected family, and local authorities have called for greater attention to housing safety in such settlements.

The state government had not officially announced any ex gratia for the family so far, and police are investigating the reason for the collapse.