Patna: A late-night tragedy struck the village of Manas Naya Panapur in Danapur, on the outskirts of Patna, when the roof of a house collapsed, killing five members of a family.
According to local residents, the incident occurred while the family was asleep after dinner on Sunday night. “A loud noise woke the entire neighbourhood,” said Panchayat head Vakil Rai. “When people reached Bablu Khan’s house, the roof had caved in completely. After much effort, the bodies of all five family members were pulled from the debris.”
The victims have been identified as members of the household of Bablu Khan, the family’s sole breadwinner. Villagers said Khan’s house, built a few years ago under the government’s housing scheme, had visible cracks in its walls and roof. The structure was reportedly in a dilapidated condition, but the family had been unable to afford repairs due to financial constraints.
Officials confirmed that the roof collapse was linked to the poor condition of the house. “The bodies have been sent for postmortem and an administrative inquiry has been initiated,” said the local station house officer.
The tragedy has triggered grief and anger in the village, with residents demanding immediate compensation and structural assessments of similar houses in the flood-prone Diara region. “There are many such houses that have weakened over time,” said former panchayat head C.P. Singh. “The administration must act swiftly to prevent another disaster like this.”
District officials said a report has been sent to the Patna administration for relief measures. Villagers held a prayer vigil at the site on Sunday evening, recalling the deceased as a close-knit family who lived modestly and were well-respected in the community.
The accident has once again raised questions about the durability of government-built houses in Bihar’s flood-prone regions, where many families continue to live in unsafe conditions.
