Four kids killed in house collapse in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW - Four minor siblings were killed and their mother received critical injuries when their mud house collapsed in Uttar Pradesh early Thursday, police said.

The accident took place in the Nekpurchaurasi area in Farrukhabad district, some 300 km from here.

“Preliminary investigations suggest the house collapsed because of dampness in the wall following the recent rainfall,” Deputy Superintendent of Police D.K. Sisodhia told reporters in Farrukhabad.

“All the five were sleeping inside the house. While the four kids — two girls and two boys — in the age group 5-10 years died on the spot, their mother was rushed to a hospital where her condition is stated to be critical,” he added.

The Farrukhabad district authorities have announced a compensation of Rs.1 lakh for the affected family, officials said.

Widespread heavy downpour has led to steep rise in the water level of most Uttar Pradesh rivers, flooding vast areas and affecting millions of people, officials said.

The release of water from the Nepal-based Banbasa dam has also pushed the Sarda, Ghaghra and Sarayu rivers well above danger mark.

The overflowing water has covered thousands of acres of agricultural land in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The worst-hit districts are Gonda, Bahraich, Ballia, Lakhimpur Kheri, Balrampur, Barabanki, Sitapur and Faizabad. The rising level of the Ganga and the Yamuna rivers was also posing a serious threat to several districts, officials said.