Sitamarhi/Patna: Five members of a family died after a peepal tree collapsed onto their house in Sitamarhi district late on Monday night, officials and local residents said.
The incident took place in Revasi Dhanushi Tola, Ward No. 1, under the Riga police station area. Four family members died at the scene, while a two-year-old child later succumbed to injuries during treatment.
House destroyed after tree collapse
According to local residents, the incident occurred at around 11pm when a peepal tree fell onto the mud house of Sikandar Sahni.
The impact caused the structure to collapse completely, trapping family members who were asleep inside under the debris.
Villagers launched rescue efforts immediately and attempted to pull those trapped from the rubble.
Five victims from the same family
The deceased have been identified as Pooja Devi, 28, wife of Sikandar Sahni; their son Rajkumar, 7; daughter Shivani, 5; and one-month-old son Laigar Kumar, all of whom died at the scene.
Another child, two-year-old Veerbhadra Kumar, was seriously injured and taken to hospital, where he later died during treatment.
Officials visit site
Following the incident, Sadar SDPO Rajiv Kumar Singh, Riga Station House Officer Abhishek Tripathi and Block Development Officer Sanjay Pathak reached the site.
The officials inspected the affected area and reviewed ongoing relief and rescue efforts.
Assistance process initiated
The district administration has begun the process of providing government assistance to the affected family, officials said.
Local residents stated that the peepal tree was old and located close to the house. They said strong winds and weakened roots may have contributed to the collapse, though the exact cause has not been officially confirmed.
