Jaipur Mosque Balcony Collapse During Friday Prayers: Over 12 Injured
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Jaipur, March 6 (NationPress) A section of the balcony wall at the Firdaus Mosque in Jaipur collapsed during Friday prayers, resulting in injuries to more than 12 individuals, including a three-year-old child. Eight of the injured are reported to be in critical condition and have been taken to the trauma center at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital.
Officials confirmed that the incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. at the mosque situated in the Bhatta Basti police station area.
At the time of the collapse, hundreds of worshippers were inside the mosque for Friday prayers when a wall from the first-floor balcony unexpectedly gave way, trapping several individuals underneath the rubble and causing chaos among the congregation.
According to eyewitness reports, the accident took place as worshippers were departing the mosque after completing their prayers.
The large crowd on the first-floor balcony reportedly exerted excessive pressure on the wall, leading to its abrupt failure. Some children nearby were also caught in the collapse. Local residents and police promptly initiated a rescue operation, extracting the injured from beneath the debris.
All victims were swiftly transported to Kanwatia Hospital for preliminary treatment. Hospital officials indicated that over a dozen individuals sustained injuries during the incident.
Among those injured, eight were subsequently referred to the Trauma Centre at SMS Hospital due to the severity of their conditions. The critically injured individuals include Rustam (40), Ishaan (34), Khurshid (25), Suhail (25), Imam Zafar (20), Iqbal (18), and two others.
Currently, three patients are receiving care at Kanwatia Hospital, while several others have been discharged after initial treatment. Dr. R.S. Tanwar, Superintendent of Kanwatia Hospital, reported that approximately 15 injured persons were admitted immediately following the incident.
Six individuals were directed to SMS Hospital due to the critical nature of their injuries, which included cases of head trauma.
Victims recounted horrifying moments following the collapse. Mohammad Shamsher, who suffered a broken leg, expressed: "When the wall fell, it felt like doomsday. We were exiting the mosque after prayers when the disaster struck."
Another victim, Mohammad Sabir (45), shared his experience of attending the mosque with his two sons. He recounted, “As we were putting on our shoes after prayers, the balcony wall suddenly came crashing down. My youngest son sustained a head injury and has been taken to SMS Hospital.”
Upon learning of the incident, local MLA Amin Kagzi, alongside MLAs Hakeem Ali and Asrar Qureshi, rushed from the Assembly to SMS Hospital. They visited the injured and their families, offering assurances of all possible support.
As news of the accident spread across the city, family members of the injured congregated at the hospitals.
Authorities have initiated an investigation to ascertain the precise cause of the collapse. Initial findings suggest that the balcony wall may have succumbed to the pressure exerted by the large crowd exiting the mosque simultaneously.