At least 30 women were injured when the first-floor ceiling of a residential house collapsed during a religious gathering in Pohrupeth village, Kupwara district, Jammu and Kashmir, on Sunday afternoon, officials confirmed. The incident occurred around 2:30 pm in the home of a local preacher, where over 50 women had gathered for a religious discourse in a second-storey hall.

The sudden collapse trapped several attendees under debris, prompting a swift response from local authorities and emergency services. The injured were promptly evacuated to the Government Medical College Hospital in Handwara, where Medical Superintendent Aijaz Ahmad reported that all patients are stable. “Doctors are assessing and observing everyone, and there is no need to panic,” Ahmad stated, noting that most injuries were minor, including bruises and fractures.

Rescue operations, supported by police and local volunteers, were completed within hours, with no fatalities reported. Preliminary investigations suggest structural weaknesses in the aging building may have contributed to the collapse, though a detailed probe is underway. The incident has raised concerns about building safety in rural areas, with social media posts on X, including from @GreaterKashmir, calling for stricter inspections of public gathering venues.

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This is the second such incident in Jammu and Kashmir this year, following a May 2025 house collapse in Rajouri that injured 22 people during a wedding. Authorities have urged residents to ensure structural integrity for large gatherings, especially in older buildings.

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