A roof collapsed in a family home in Kanpur, northern India, on Sunday morning, killing three people, including a newborn, and leaving another family member with minor injuries. The dead were 60-year-old Vinodini Shukla, her 28-year-old daughter-in-law Anshika and the baby; 32-year-old Harsh Shukla survived.

Four family members were in the room

The collapse happened in Panki Padav, an area of Kanpur, while the family was at home on Diwali morning. Harsh, his mother, Anshika and the infant were in the room when its roof gave way. Relatives and neighbours pulled them from the debris and took them to Kalyanpur Community Health Centre, where doctors declared three dead.

Relative Manoj Bajpai said the family was doing its morning chores. He said Anshika was feeding the baby, while Harsh and his mother were in the room; Harsh’s father Avadhesh and younger brother Raju were in another room. The Times of India reported that neighbours said Anshika apparently tried to shield the infant by holding him beneath her. Both died.

The baby’s name was reported as Aarav by the Times of India. Accounts differ on his age: Hindustan Times and the Times of India gave it as 20 days, while ANI reported that the Kanpur West deputy police chief put it at about 21 days.

Police cite seepage as a preliminary explanation

The house was a single-storey building with four rooms, about 35 years old and owned by Avadhesh. The collapsed roof was built with bamboo, wooden beams and mud. The construction details are confirmed, but the cause has not been established: Deputy Commissioner of Police West SM Qasim Abidi said preliminary indications were that water seepage had increased the load on the roof.

The bodies were sent for post-mortem examinations, and a revenue team was at the site as police carried out further legal formalities. The Times of India reported that the family initially refused the examinations before agreeing after police persuasion.

Resident Manoj Kumar Vajpayee said the family was in poor financial condition and appealed to the administration and government for financial assistance for those left behind. The available accounts do not say whether aid has been provided.