Tragic House Collapse in Himachal Pradesh Claims Lives of Mother and Pregnant Daughter
Devastating Incident in Rajgarh
A heartbreaking event unfolded in Rajgarh, located in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, on Wednesday when a three-story residence unexpectedly collapsed, resulting in the deaths of a woman and her pregnant daughter. The incident also left two young children injured.
The collapse took place around Wednesday afternoon in Chhichhadiadhar village, under the Didag panchayat, where the home of Bhim Singh fell apart. Initial investigations indicate that ground subsidence, likely caused by recent heavy rainfall, may have led to the rapid failure of the structure.
At the time of the disaster, Bhim Singh’s wife, Nirmala (60), and his married daughter, Pooja (32), who was visiting her parental home and was reportedly expecting, along with two toddlers, both approximately one-and-a-half years old, were inside the house and became trapped under the debris.
Local residents, especially a group of young individuals, quickly responded to the sound of the collapse. They began clearing the rubble before specialized rescue teams arrived, successfully extracting the trapped family members. The injured were promptly taken to the Civil Hospital in Rajgarh.
Medical personnel at the hospital confirmed the deaths of Nirmala and Pooja, who was married to Amit Rana.
One of the injured children, Ira, is in critical condition and has been referred to a hospital in Solan for advanced care, while the other child, Abiyana, is receiving treatment at the Civil Hospital in Rajgarh.
The tragedy could have been even worse, as Pooja’s mother-in-law and another woman from the household had just stepped outside shortly before the collapse. Bhim Singh and his son were also away from home at that time.
This incident comes during a period of heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh, raising alarms about ground instability and the safety of structures in the region's mountainous landscape.
Second Major Incident in Sirmaur
The house collapse marks the second significant tragedy in Sirmaur within a short timeframe. Previously, in the Shri Renuka Ji area, a vehicle fell into a deep gorge overnight, resulting in four fatalities and nine injuries.
These consecutive incidents have heightened concerns regarding the dangers associated with heavy rainfall, landslides, and unstable terrain throughout the district.