Four children died and five others suffered serious injuries when an old mound caved at Khagaria's Alauli, about 180 km east of Patna, on Thursday.

The injured children have been admitted to the Khagaria Sadar hospital where the condition of one is stated to be critical.

Police said the mishap had taken place when a group of children were playing near an old mound at Kerakhera village in Alauli block. The injured children fainted and sustained injuries in their heads and chests after the mound collapsed.

The deceased have been identified as Gulkashan Praveeen (17), Sehjal Kumari (14), Arti Kumari (16) and Gunjan Kumari (11), all residents of Kerakhera village. Alauli police station house officer Gajendra Kumar said the injured had been rushed to the local primary health centre.

The doctors at the Alauli primary health centre later referred four of the seriously injured children to the Sadar hospital, Gajendra said, adding that district magistrate Saket Kumar Singh accompanied by superintendent of police Anil Kumar Singh rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.

DM Singh said the four bodies were extricated with the help of an excavator machine. The hole had been formed because of soil digging by people over a period of time.

Extortion FIR

The extortionist apparently called him again on Wednesday.

The company has been awarded contract for the construction of Sonbarsa-Rajwar road under Dumra block in Sitamarhi district, around 130km north of Patna.