One dead, 16 children injured during 'Ashtami' celebrations

Ludhiana, Apr 13 (UNI) A child was killed and 16 other children were injured when a pile of bricks fell on them while they were waiting for 'langar' (food) on the occasion of 'Ashtami' in the New Shivpuri locality of the city here this afternoon.

According to police, the tragedy took place outside the house of Darshan Lal, a resident of the locality who had organised the 'langar' for the children on the occasion of 'Ashtami'. A group of children aged between five to 14 years were waiting their turn to go into the house when bricks fell on them from the first floor of the house where the 'langar' was organised.

Inquiry by the police revealed that the bricked railing on the first floor gave-in under the weight of another group of children who were waiting for their turn to have 'langar' on the floor.

The injured children, many of them with head injuries were rushed to hospitals in the city. Later a child who had received serious head injuries succumbed in a hospital.

Darshan Lal, a religious man used to organise such 'langars' every year on the occasion of 'Ashtami'.

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