Two children killed, 15 other injured during 'Ashtmi' celebrations

Ludhiana, Apr 13 (UNI) Two children were killed and 15 other injured when a pile of bricks fell on them while they were waiting for their turn to partake 'langar' (food) on the occasion of 'Ashtmi' in the New Shivpuri locality of the city here this afternoon.

According to police sources, the tragedy took place outside the house of Darshan Lal, a resident of the locality, who had organised the 'langar'. A group of children, aged between 5 to 14 years, were waiting their turn to go into the house when bricks came raining down from the first floor of the house where the 'langar' was organised.

Inquiries 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 first floor.

The bricks hit those waiting below, leading to injuries to 17 children.

The injured children, many of them with head injuries, were rushed to hospitals in the city. Later, two children identified as Rohit and Akash, who had received serious head injuries, died in the hospital.

While nine of the injured have been admitted to the CMC hospital, the remaining six are convalsing at the Shri Ram Chairtable Hospital.

Inquiries revealed that Darshan Lal, a religions man, used to organise such 'langars' every year on this festival.

UNI XC-HS GL BD2259