Berhampur, Sept. 21: Tragedy struck Kalajamuna village in Ganjam district today when four children died as the wall of a house collapsed on them.

The deceased have been identified as Sravani Mali, 7, daughter of Susant Mali, Sandeep Sahu, 5, son of Panchanan Sahu, Nandini Mali, 6 and Seshadev Mali, 4, both children of Kabiraj Mali.

"The wall of Purushottam Mallick's house, which was under repair, caved in when these children were standing near it," said inspector in-charge of Rambha police station Prasant Das.

While Sravani and Nandini died on the spot, Seshadev died at Chatrapur sub-divisional headquarters hospital and Sandeep at MKCG Medical College and Hospital.

"Workers were replacing the thatched roof of the house. When they removed a few bamboos of the roof, the 15ft high mud wall suddenly collapsed and unfortunately the children were standing there at that moment," said Susant Mali.

Ganjam tehsildar Shaktikant Ray said: "We have sanctioned Rs 10,000 from the Red Cross fund for each deceased child's kin."

Four drown

Bodies of Mangulu Sahu and Sagar Patra, both aged 14 and residents of Krushnapeta Sahi in Berhampur, were recovered today. They got drowned in Jagabandhu pond on Sunday morning.

Twenty-four-year-old girl Ganga Naika of Jogimari village also drowned in Loharakhandi river near Bhanjanagar while bathing in the river. Ganga, along with four other girls, went to the river for the immersion of 'Khudurukoni' idol.

In another incident, Binod Parida, 22, a resident of Mandara village drowned in Boda Nadi at Dhanichapalli near Belaguntha today while bathing. Binod went to Dhanichapalli to visit his grandfather, police said.