From correspondents in Punjab, India, 07:30 PM IST

Four people, of them three children, were buried alive when a house wall collapsed in Sonepat town in Haryana, police officials said Monday.

The wall of the house adjoining their dwelling collapsed due to heavy rains, killing four of them on the spot Sunday. Three more were seriously injured and were admitted to a civil hospital, the officials said.

The adjoining house is owned by Ajay, they added.

Those who died have been identified as Siraju (15), Lali (10), Amina (5) and their uncle Nabid Husain (50). They belonged to families of migrant labourers from Kolkata and earned their living through rag-picking.

After visiting the accident spot at Jatawara Mohalla colony near Khijar Makbara, District Collector Ajit Balaji Joshi announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs.50,000 to the family of Husain and Rs.20,000 each to the next of the kin of the minors.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)