West Bengal, 31 July (H.S.): A 57-year-old vegetable vendor and his daughter died after their mud house collapsed amid incessant rainfall at Gajghanta Malikpara under Magra-II Gram Panchayat in the Saptagram Assembly constituency of Hooghly district.

According to local residents, the house suddenly collapsed late on Thursday night, trapping Gour Malik and his daughter under the debris. After receiving the information, local residents rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies. Police from Mogra Police Station also reached the site and initiated an investigation.

Gour Malik, who worked as a vegetable vendor, had reportedly received the first instalment of funds under the Awas Yojana and was in the process of constructing a new house. The tragedy occurred before the family could complete the construction.

Local residents suspect that the continuous heavy rainfall may have weakened the mud structure, leading to its collapse. However, the exact cause of the incident is being ascertained.

Saptagram MLA Swaraj Ghosh expressed deep anguish over the deaths on Friday. He said he was currently away from his constituency and would meet the bereaved family after returning. He also assured that all possible assistance would be extended to the affected family from the government’s side.

The incident has cast a pall of grief over the locality.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey