Keralite girl killed as iron pillar falls in visitor's gallery of Indo-Pak border

Attari (Punjab): A nine-year-old Keralite girl was killed here on Thursday when an iron pillar of an under-construction building fell down and hit her head in the visitor's gallery of Indo-Pak border, police said.

The deceased has been identified as Sarinandana, daughter of K.V. Premarajan of Karivelloor near Vadakara. 

The incident occurred when an electric cable got stuck in the machine which was demolishing a part of old building near the Swarn Jayanti Gate at Indo-Pak border and brought down the iron pillar killing Sarinandana on the spot, they said.

The victim had come here along with her parents to watch the evening parade of two neighboring nations and was standing near the construction site when the mishap took place, police said. The family was in Punjab for a picnic.

Another person, Billa Singh (40) was injured in the incident and has been admitted to the hospital where his condition is stated to be critical.

Notably, construction has been going on for the last few months to extend the visitor gallery in order to accommodate the increasing flow of visitors at Indo-Pak Attari border.

Each day around 30,000 visitors across India, visit here to enjoy the evening 'Beating Retreat Ceremony' conducted by the border guarding forces of India and Pakistan.