MP: 7 people die after fort wall collapses due to heavy rain in Datia; CM announces ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each

Datia (Madhya Pradesh) [India], September 12 (ANI): In a shocking incident, seven people died after a wall of a fort collapsed following heavy rain in Madhya Pradesh's Datia district, collector Sandeep Kumar Mawkin said.
The incident occurred in Khalkapura locality in the district in the early hours of Thursday at around 4 am. According to locals, the wall of Rajgarh Fort in Datia collapsed and fell on a house adjacent to it, in which nine members of a family were stuck. The locals rescued two persons while seven remained stuck inside it.
Collector Sandeep Kumar Mawkin said, "On September 12, at around 4 am, a wall of a fort called Rar collapsed due to continuous rainfall for around 36 hours in the district and nine members of a family got buried inside it. The locals immediately swung into action and rescued two members of the family. Later we admitted them to hospital and they are safe."
"There was a very narrow way to the incident spot due to which the JCB and poclain machine could not reach there. So, we called the SDERF (State Disaster Emergency Response Force) team and the Superintendent of Police, Sub Divisional Magistrate and other officials reached the spot. With the help of the SDRF team three bodies were recovered. Thereafter, using the poclain machine, the 'Rar wall' was demolished a bit more and then all the seven bodies were recovered from the spot," the collector said.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed concern over the incident and announced to provide a relief amount of Rs 4 Lakh each according to the norms of the government to next of kin of the deceased, he added.
Those who died were identified as Shivam Vansakar (22), Suraj Vansakar (18), Kishan Vansakar (60), Prabha Vansakar (56), Niranjan Vansakar (60), Mamta Vansakar (55) and Radha Vansakar (25),
The injured have been identified as Munna Vansakar (59) and Akash Vansakar (25).
Meanwhile, CM Yadav posted on X, "The news of the death of people due to the collapse of the old wall of Rajgarh Fort in Datia is extremely painful. We all are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief."
"As soon as the information of the incident was received, the rescue operation was started immediately by the SDERF and the district administration team, but due to the narrow road, despite tireless efforts, these precious lives could not be saved. Instructions have been given to provide financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased," he wrote.
"I pray to the Almighty God to give place to the departed souls at His lotus feet and give strength to the bereaved families to bear this loss," he further added. (ANI)