Madhya Pradesh: Wall collapse kills 2 kids in Shivpuri

Bhopal: Wall of a toilet built for the tribals under Maryada Abhiyaan, launched in 2012 by the state government, collapsed on Monday, killing two kids, aged six and seven years, in Shivpuri district.

The incident happened at Rathakheda village, under Pohari police station; this toilet was built under the Maryada Abhiyaan of state government, a campaign launched in 2012 to liberate the villages from the ills of open defecation.

The wall of one of the toilets collapsed when children were playing beside it, killing two on the spot. The deceased have been identified as Raja, 7, and Prince, 6, both residents of Rathakheda village.

The incident took place late in the afternoon when most of the elders were working in the fields and kids were playing. The victims remained under the debris for almost an hour; it was only after the elders returned that they could be taken out, but by that time both the children had died, said sources. Locals alleged that several toilets were to be built in the village as a part of state government campaign, but due to corruption, many of them were left unfinished and locals still defecate in the open. It was due to the low quality of the material used that the toilet built in 2013 collapsed within few years; even that toilet was incomplete, alleged the villagers.

District administration has started a probe and ordered that proper investigations should be carried out to check the condition of all the toilets built in the village under Maryada Abhiyaan, and if any discrepancy is found, appropriate action would be taken against the people responsible. Zilla panchayat CEO, HP Verma said, “The toilet that collapsed was built in 2013. District collector has already ordered a probe into the matter. Construction quality of all the toilets in the village will be checked and report will be submitted within a week. Appropriate action would be taken if any anomaly is found.”