Wedding turns tragic: 24 dead, 26 hurt as wall of hall collapses

Twenty-four people, including four children, were killed and 26 injured when a wall of a marriage hall collapsed during a heavy storm in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan on Wednesday night, police said.

A marriage was going on in the hall when the storm hit the area, police said.

People took shelter under a shed attached with a wall which collapsed suddenly, leaving 24 dead and 26 injured, Inspector General of Police Alok Vashishtha said.

The IG said the entire structure of the wall and the shed collapsed and those who had taken shelter got trapped.

Superintendent of Police Anil Tank the wall was nearly 90-feet long and 12-13 feet in height.

Several food stalls were set up adjoining the wall. A tin shed was also attached to a portion of the wall.

“The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals immediately and treatment was administered. One injured has been referred for SMS Hospital in Jaipur,’ he said.

The weather suddenly changed and heavy winds started blowing which led to the incident at Sewar Road.

The bodies have been shifted to a mortuary and post-mortem will be conducted on Thursday, police sources said.

A case was registered against the owner of the marriage hall on Thursday.

Superintendent of Police Anil Tank said the marriage hall owner has been booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

He said a survey of all the marriage halls and gardens in Bharatpur will be conduced to review safety and security measures.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje condoled the deaths and gave necessary instructions to officers concerned for proper treatment of the injured.