Sagar, April 1: Nearly 19 months after the tragic wall collapse during a religious event in Shahpur that claimed the lives of nine children, a local court has delivered its verdict, holding three individuals guilty of negligence.
The 9th Additional Sessions Judge Rajesh Singh sentenced Muloo Patel, the owner of the dilapidated building, along with event organizers Sanju alias Keshav Patel and Shiv Patel, to five years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed fines on each of them.
This ruling has provided a sense of justice to the affected families and sends a strong message regarding accountability and public safety.
The incident occurred on August 4, 2024, when a wall of a two-story crumbling building suddenly collapsed during the third day of the Shri Mad Bhagwat Katha, held near the Hardaul Baba Temple. At that time, children were participating in a Shivling construction program under a tent.
Eleven children aged between 10 and 15 were trapped under the debris. Despite the villagers’ rescue efforts, nine children, including Divyansh, Nitesh, Ashutosh, Prince, Parv, Devaraj, Vansh (Mayank), Hemant, and Dhruv, lost their lives, while Sumit Prajapati and Khushi Patwa survived after prolonged treatment.
Additional Public Prosecutor Devesh Bachkainiya represented the prosecution in this case. Following the incident, the police promptly registered a case and arrested the three accused.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Madhya Pradesh government also took administrative action, removing the then-collector Deepak Arya and Superintendent of Police Abhishek Tiwari from their positions, emphasizing accountability for safety in public events.
The families of the victims welcomed the court’s decision but continue to demand strict enforcement of building safety regulations near religious and community events. Social activists have also highlighted the need for stringent guidelines to prevent such incidents in the future.