Three Killed in Separate Wall Collapse Incidents in Odisha Amid Heavy Rainfall

Three people, including a three-year-old child, were killed in separate wall-collapse incidents in Odisha amid heavy rainfall across several parts of the state, officials said. The incidents were reported in Mayurbhanj and Sambalpur districts as intense rain continued to affect northern and western parts of Odisha. The deaths have highlighted the risks faced by people living in mud houses and other vulnerable structures during prolonged periods of heavy rainfall.

In Mayurbhanj district, 49-year-old Singo Murmu died after the mud walls and tiled roof of her house collapsed while she was sleeping in Matkamdihi village at around 4 am. In another incident in the Bangiriposi area, a woman identified as Lakshmi Singh of Bhulanpur village died after a weakened mud wall collapsed while she was attempting to move household belongings to a safer place. The third fatality was reported from Gobindpur New Colony in Sambalpur, where a three-year-old boy was trapped after a mud wall collapsed around noon. The wall had reportedly weakened following several days of rainfall. Local residents rescued the child from the debris and rushed him to a nearby hospital, but he was declared dead.

The incidents occurred as Odisha continued to receive heavy rainfall during the ongoing monsoon season. Official rainfall data showed that the state received 1,154.3 mm of rain between June 1 and August 31, slightly above its normal rainfall of 1,150.2 mm for the period. The state had faced a significant rainfall deficit in June, but above-normal rainfall in July and August helped make up for the shortfall.

Mayurbhanj has been among the areas receiving particularly heavy rain. Bangiriposhi recorded 309.2 mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period, making it one of the highest rainfall figures recorded in the state during the latest spell. The India Meteorological Department issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj. Heavy rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds were also forecast in several other districts, including Balasore, Bhadrak, Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Angul and Subarnapur.

Weather experts have linked the prolonged rainfall to slow-moving low-pressure systems over the Bay of Bengal. When such systems move slowly, they can remain over or near the same region for an extended period, resulting in sustained rainfall. Continuous rain can significantly weaken mud walls and older structures by allowing water to seep into the building material. In rural and low-lying areas, where vulnerable houses are more common, the risk of structural failure can increase sharply during prolonged downpours.

With more rainfall expected in parts of Odisha, authorities and residents face continued concerns over flooding, waterlogging and damage to vulnerable houses. The three deaths have underscored the need for greater caution around weakened buildings as the state remains under the influence of an active monsoon spell.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.