Four killed in building collapse in Puri

At least four people were killed and four critically injured when an over 100-year-old house collapsed in the temple town of Puri on Sunday.

The house collapsed at Daita Lane near Janhimundia Square in Puri town, killing four people on the spot, Additional District Magistrate Uddhab Chandra Majhi said.

The deceased were identified as the caretaker of the house Bauri Barik and her daughter Swetsweni Barik, Sarojini Barik and Sulachana Das.

Some of the victims had come to the pilgrim town for a darshan of Lord Jagannath from Agalamala in Balasore and were staying in the dilapidated house, police said.

Fire brigades from Puri and nearby Brahmagiri were engaged in the rescue operations. It took them over three hours to clear the debris.

The injured were admitted to the district headquarter hospital in Puri and their condition was stated to be critical.

The additional district magistrate, along with senior police officers, had rushed to the spot soon after the incident. Majhi said poor maintenance of the building appeared to have led to the mishap.

He said there are many old buildings in Puri town and the administration would examine their condition soon.

Necessary assistance would be provided to the injured people and the family of the deceased from district Red Cross, he added.