A wall at the Firdaus Mosque in Jaipur collapsed during Friday prayers, injuring over 12 people, including a three-year-old child. Eight of the injured individuals are in critical condition and have been taken to the trauma center at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. at the mosque located in the Bhatta Basti police station area.
Hundreds of worshippers were inside the mosque for Friday prayers when a wall of the first-floor balcony suddenly collapsed, trapping several people under the debris and causing panic among the attendees. Witnesses mentioned that the collapse happened as worshippers were exiting the mosque after prayers.
The pressure on the wall increased due to the large crowd on the first-floor balcony, leading to its sudden collapse. Some children nearby were also caught in the falling structure. Local residents and police promptly initiated a rescue operation to extricate the injured from the rubble.
All the victims were swiftly taken to Kanwatia Hospital for initial treatment, where hospital authorities reported more than a dozen injuries. Among the injured, eight were referred to the Trauma Centre at SMS Hospital for severe injuries. The critically injured individuals include Rustam (40), Ishaan (34), Khurshid (25), Suhail (25), Imam Zafar (20), Iqbal (18), and two others.
Three patients are currently receiving treatment at Kanwatia Hospital, while others were discharged after primary care. Dr. R.S. Tanwar, the Superintendent of Kanwatia Hospital, mentioned that around 15 injured individuals were brought to the hospital immediately after the incident.
Victims recounted harrowing experiences following the collapse. Mohammad Shamsher, who sustained a broken leg, described the moment as apocalyptic, stating, “When the wall collapsed, it felt like doomsday. We were leaving the mosque after prayers when the accident occurred.” Another victim, Mohammad Sabir (45), narrated how he and his sons were at the mosque, and as they were putting on their shoes after prayers, the balcony wall suddenly gave way, resulting in his youngest son sustaining a head injury and being admitted to SMS Hospital.
Upon learning of the incident, local MLAs Amin Kagzi, Hakeem Ali, and Asrar Qureshi hurried to SMS Hospital from the Assembly to meet the injured and their families, offering them reassurance and support. Family members of the injured individuals also gathered at the hospitals upon hearing about the accident.
Authorities have initiated an investigation to ascertain the precise cause of the collapse. Initial reports suggest that the balcony wall might have weakened and collapsed due to the pressure exerted by the large crowd leaving the mosque simultaneously.
