Tragic Wall Collapse Claims Life of Elderly Vendor in Nayagaon Market
A devastating incident unfolded in Nayagaon's bustling main market on Thursday morning when a wall of an old building collapsed during demolition work, resulting in the death of a 70-year-old Kashmiri man and injuries to two other individuals. The tragic event has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised serious questions about safety protocols during such operations.
Panic and Rescue Efforts at the Market
The collapse occurred outside Shri Shyam Fashion Mart, where demolition activities were underway across the road. According to eyewitness accounts, a substantial portion of the wall suddenly gave way, crashing directly onto roadside vendors who were positioned nearby. Panic immediately gripped the entire market area as debris scattered and people scrambled for safety.
Local residents quickly mobilized to launch rescue operations, working diligently to free those trapped beneath the rubble. After considerable effort, they managed to pull out the elderly man who was buried under the debris. Tragically, he had already succumbed to his injuries by the time he was extracted from the wreckage.
Victims and Aftermath of the Incident
The deceased has been identified as Gul Mohammad Malik (70), a resident of Bhugram village in Gulgam district, Kashmir. For the past two and a half months, he had been earning his livelihood by selling dry fruits from a roadside cart in Nayagaon, making this tragedy particularly poignant for the local community that had come to know him.
Two other vendors, Santosh and Ravi Kishan, sustained minor injuries in the incident, though their carts were completely destroyed by the falling debris. Eyewitnesses revealed that the administration had previously issued warnings for people to vacate the area, but some vendors, including Malik, had remained at the spot, possibly due to economic necessity.
Official Response and Investigation
Upon receiving information about the collapse, Nayagaon police rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control. The body was taken into custody and subsequently sent to a Sector-16 hospital for postmortem examination. Authorities have informed the victim's family about the tragic incident, and a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the wall collapse is currently underway.
This incident follows recent reports about the Naya Gaon civic body sealing what it described as the first 'illegal' building in the area, highlighting ongoing concerns about construction safety and regulatory compliance in the region. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers associated with demolition work in crowded urban areas and the importance of strict adherence to safety protocols to prevent such heartbreaking losses of life.
