One dead, 40 others injured as roof of house collapses during village festivities

One woman died while forty people were injured when the roof of a house l collapsed in Huligerepura village of Maddur taluk near here on Tuesday.

A large number of people in the village had gathered on the rooftops to catch a glimpse of the deity during the Kondothsava festivities on Tuesday. The roof of a house on which several people including children had gathered suddenly collapsed, apparently unable to bear the load, killing the 40-year-old woman.

The deceased has been identified as Puttalingamma, a resident of Huligerepura. The injured were rushed to Government hospitals in Maddur and Mandya. The injured included about 8 children, two of whom were taken to NIMHANS for treatment of their head injuries.

The village was observing the rituals of the festival since Monday night and the Kondotsava began in the early hours of Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Minister for Excise K. Gopalaiah, who is also the Minister in charge of Mandya district, rushed to the site of the mishap on Tuesday and announced a compensation of ₹1 lakh to the family of the deceased from his own funds. However, he said he has discussed the tragedy with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Revenue Minister R. Ashok and sought a financial relief of ₹5 lakh to the family of the deceased woman.

Mr. Gopalaiah also visited the Government Hospital in Maddur, where the injured were undergoing treatment. He said the Government will bear the medical expenditure of 36 persons, who had suffered fractures and other injuries in the mishap. He also promised to return to the hospital in two days’ time for an update on the progress of the treatment.

The Minister was accompanied by D.C. Thammanna, MLA; Deputy Commissioner of Mandya S. Aswathi; Mandya Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Divyaprabhu and other district administration officials.