Playtime turns tragic: Two children killed in Saharanpur soil collapse

A tragic accident at a brick kiln in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur has claimed the lives of two children , leaving three others battling for life after they were buried under collapsing soil.

The incident occurred near Sangmor village, where labourers from Shamli district live and work with their families at the kiln site. According to police, five children were playing in a pit formed due to mud excavation when a mound of loose earth suddenly gave way, trapping them underneath.

The victims have been identified as Javed (8) and Amiya (11) . Workers present at the site rushed to the spot and launched immediate rescue efforts, pulling the children out after considerable struggle. They were initially taken to a nearby community health centre, where doctors declared two of them dead .

The three injured children were later shifted to a private hospital in Saharanpur, where they remain in critical condition , officials said.

Police stated that most of the workers at the kiln belong to the Kadhla area of Shamli district and have been employed there for nearly a decade. The incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by families living in makeshift settlements close to industrial sites such as brick kilns, where basic safety infrastructure is often lacking and children can be exposed to hazardous surroundings.

In a notable development, authorities said that the families of the victims and the kiln owner have reached a mutual understanding and have chosen not to pursue any legal action in the matter.

The bodies of the deceased children were later laid to rest at a graveyard in Sangmor village, as grief spread across the close knit community of seasonal workers who move between villages for employment.