What Caused the Collapse of a 4-Storey Mansion in Jaipur?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two lives lost in the collapse of a dilapidated mansion.
- Seven individuals were rescued from the debris.
- The building's condition worsened due to recent rains.
- The local administration has evacuated nearby residences.
- MLA criticizes authorities for negligence regarding unsafe structures.
Jaipur, Sep 6 (NationPress) Tragically, two individuals, a father and his daughter, lost their lives, while five others required hospitalization after a 4-storey crumbling mansion collapsed near Subhash Chowk Circle, situated behind Bal Bharti School in Jaipur late Friday night, officials reported on Saturday.
The incident took place around midnight, resulting in seven people being trapped under the rubble. Fortunately, all were eventually rescued, but sadly, two lives were claimed. The victims included Prabhat (33) and his daughter Pihu (6), while his wife Sunita (25) sustained serious injuries.
The family was extracted from the debris on Saturday morning. Additionally, four other individuals—Vasudev (34), his wife Sukanya (23), and their sons Sonu (4) and Rishi (6)—were rescued during the night and transported to SMS Hospital.
Local residents indicated that the mansion had been in a decrepit state and had deteriorated further due to intermittent rains since Friday. The aged lime-constructed building housed over 20 tenants, primarily migrant workers from West Bengal.
Rescue operations, conducted by teams from Civil Defense and SDRF, extended through the night until 7 a.m. Senior officials, including ACP Manak Chowk Piyush Kaviya, Ramganj SHO Subhash Kumar, and Subhash Chowk SHO Likhmaram, remained present with police personnel.
A resident named Sanjay, who was inside the building, described the moment of collapse, stating, “When the house fell, it sounded like thunder. The back section gave way first, followed by the entire structure.”
Another resident, Saptami, mentioned that her sister, Sukanya, was trapped under the debris but survived. Elder tenant Sonka recounted, “We were awake when the house began to fall. We attempted to knock on the gates to warn others, but within moments, the building had collapsed.” The local administration has since evacuated nearby residences for safety reasons.
Officials confirmed that at least five other buildings in Subhash Chowk are in a similar dilapidated condition, presenting severe risks during heavy rains.
Additional DCP North Dr Durg Singh Rajpurohit confirmed, “Seven individuals were rescued. A man and his daughter perished, while five others are receiving treatment at SMS Hospital.”
MLA Amin Kagzi strongly condemned the authorities, labeling the incident as a result of administrative negligence.
He stated, “I had previously written to the Municipal Corporation Commissioner and officials, urging them to identify and vacate dilapidated houses within the fort area. Many of these structures are extremely old and on the verge of collapse. I even provided photographs and emails to illustrate the danger, yet no action was taken.”
The MLA emphasized that unless immediate measures are implemented, other vulnerable buildings in the old city could also collapse during heavy rains.