Kuchinda: A 3-year-old boy died after a mud wall collapsed on him under Gobindpur police limits in Sambalpur district Sunday, police said.
The victim was identified as Rajbir Karsel, son of Bibek Karsel of Gahmapali village under Pokhrasalhe panchayat in Kolabira block of Jharsuguda district.
Police registered a case of unnatural death, recovered the body and launched an investigation.
Bibek works in Jharsuguda, while his wife Ranjulata was living with Rajbir in a rented house owned by Gitanjali Patra at Gobindpur New Colony and working as a daily wage labourer.
The area had received heavy rain for several days, including Sunday morning, weakening the mud wall of the house.
At about noon Sunday, the wall suddenly collapsed, trapping Rajbir inside the house.
Local residents rushed to the spot and launched rescue efforts.
The boy was pulled from the debris after about 45 minutes and taken to Gobindpur hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
The incident triggered grief in the area.
Residents have urged the administration to inspect vulnerable mud houses and take necessary safety measures, as well as provide government assistance to the boy’s family.