Mangalore : A compound wall of a private commercial complex located in an elevated area  collapsed over a house at Thottilagundi in Bajpe on June 18, Tuesday morning, resulting in the death of four persons who were fast asleep in the house when the tragedy took place. Seven others sustained injuries.

There were a total of nine persons in the house when the tragedy occurred.

Those killed are  Sundari (55), Sundar (58), Baby (45) and Chaitra (14).  The injured are  Ashwitha (14), Ashwini (18), Asha (38), Veena (50), Ashwath (11),Shambhavi (12) and Shekhar, the owner of the house who was sleeping in a nearby house which too suffered some damage.

However, the house in which the deceased were sleeping was completely damaged. It is learnt as there was no outlet for the rain water the compound wall had weakened and collapsed.

Local  residents informed that a girl who was in the house had rushed out and alerted neighbours. However, by then the four had died. The other injured were later rescued.

Neighbours said they had complained to the DC against the construction of the compound wall, but of no avail. The Panchayat, they said had said that it had not permitted the compound wall.

Home Minister KJ George, state ministers Ramanatha Rai, Abhayachandra Jain and Deputy Commissioner N Prakash visited the spot and inspected the relief operations. Home Minister announced a compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh to the affected family and said for the time being it will be rehabilitated on the second floor of the panchayat building which was unused.