'It felt like small tremor': 21 injured as mosque balcony wall collapses in Jaipur

JAIPUR: At least 21 people sustained injuries when a balcony wall at Firdaus Masjid in the Bhatta Basti area collapsed shortly after Friday prayers. The mishap occurred around 2:30pm, right as several devotees were exiting the mosque following the conclusion of the afternoon namaz.

Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos as the wall gave way, sending debris crashing down onto those gathered below. Additional DCP Bajrang Singh said, "Namaz had just concluded and many people were standing under the balcony when the wall suddenly gave way. Preliminary information suggested some children on the first floor may have been leaning against the wall. The structure, built with single bricks, appears to have caved in."


While DCP Singh pointed to structural issues as a potential cause, several witnesses speculated that the movement of worshippers along the balcony during and after the prayers increased pressure on the aging structure. One injured worshipper recounted the moment of horror: "A large number of people were stepping out after offering namaz when the wall suddenly collapsed from above," he said, nursing injuries to his back and waist.

Another eyewitness, identified as Imtiaz, described the collapse as terrifying: "After offering prayers, we were putting on our slippers and shoes when the balcony wall suddenly gave way. There was a loud thud and people began running in different directions," he recalled.

Among the injured, a woman spoke about her husband, Salman, a plumber, who was caught in the chaos. "During the prayers, the wall suddenly fell with a loud bang and people began shouting for help," she stated.

Suhail, a 15-year-old from Bihar, suffered a head injury in the incident, with his mother Tamanna Khatoon expressing her fears for his well-being. Other victims included Abdul Samad, 45, an iron fabricator, who suffered injuries to his hand and leg, and Mohammad Aslam, 50, who sustained a shoulder injury.

Eyewitness Yunus described the scene as "terrifying," describing the panic that ensued when the wall fell. "When the wall collapsed, it felt like a small tremor," he said. Police and emergency teams responded swiftly, working alongside locals to clear debris and rescue those trapped.

Out of the 21 injured, 10 were admitted to Kanwatia Hospital and 11 to the SMS trauma ward. Authorities were continuing their investigation to uncover the exact cause of the collapse.

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