Daijiworld Media Network- Sabarkantha
Sabarkantha, Jul 1: Tragedy struck Ratanpur village in Khedbrahma taluk of Gujarat on Sunday, as two young children lost their lives and another was critically injured after a mud wall collapsed due to incessant rainfall.
As per preliminary reports, the region has been experiencing continuous downpour for the past fortnight. The relentless rain has weakened numerous structures, especially those built with traditional materials such as mud and clay. In one such unfortunate incident, a rain-soaked mud wall gave way and came crashing down on three unsuspecting children playing nearby.
Local sources confirmed that a boy and a girl, both below the age of 7, died on the spot. A third child, who suffered grievous injuries, has been admitted to a nearby hospital and is undergoing urgent medical care. Kheroj police have launched an investigation into the incident.
The district administration has begun assessing other vulnerable homes in the region to avert similar tragedies. Structural safety reviews are being prioritized, particularly in rural belts where infrastructure continues to remain fragile.
Meanwhile, the incident brings to the fore the pressing issue of deteriorating infrastructure in Gujarat. As per official statistics from March 2023, a staggering 2,433 gram panchayats across the state continue to function without proper buildings, while an additional 402 panchayats have sought urgent repair or construction work. Vadodara tops the list with 267 affected panchayats, followed by Banaskantha (225), Bhavnagar (185), Amreli (122), Surendranagar (116), Surat (115), Sabarkantha (112), and Anand (107).
Shockingly, nearly 94 per cent of Gujarat’s 14,618 gram panchayats are categorized under Grade B — a classification that reflects substandard facilities and structural neglect.
The urban scenario is no different. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) recently flagged 292 buildings as unsafe, a sharp increase from 109 such structures in 2021–22. During the 2024 Rath Yatra preparations, 261 dangerous buildings were identified along the traditional route alone.
In a recent scare, a part of a dilapidated three-storey building in Shahibaug collapsed. Swift response from emergency services helped rescue 16 residents, including children and senior citizens, without any casualties. The incident has prompted AMC to conduct structural audits and consider demolitions of unsafe buildings before the peak monsoon sets in.
Authorities are now racing against time to ensure public safety amid growing concerns about the crumbling rural and urban infrastructure across Gujarat.