A six-year-old girl lost her life in Jarabaga village under the Mahulpali police limits of Bamara block, Sambalpur district, when an old mud wall collapsed while she was playing nearby.
On Friday morning, Mayank Patel, aged five, and his neighbour Roli Bag, aged six, were playing near the house of Mayank’s father, Manjil Patel. Suddenly, a dilapidated mud wall gave way. Mayank escaped with minor injuries, but the wall fell directly on Roli.
Family members and villagers rushed to rescue her from under the debris. She was taken in critical condition to Kuchinda Sub-Divisional Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
The incident plunged the village into mourning. Residents described Roli as a cheerful child whose sudden death left the community devastated. Police from Mahulpali station reached the spot and began investigating the circumstances of the collapse.
Authorities are examining the structural condition of the wall and other safety concerns. Locals stressed that old mud houses and walls pose serious risks, especially in areas where children often play. The tragedy has reignited calls for safer housing and preventive measures in rural Odisha.
