In a tragic incident, five children were killed and seven injured after a wall of an anganwadi centre collapsed in Nayagarh district of Odisha on Monday. Police said the incident occurred at about 11.30 am while a total of 14 children – all aged between three and five – were having their lunch at the anganwadi centre in the premise of a primary school in Ranapur in the district, about 80 km southeast of Bhubaneswar.

"Three of the children died on the spot," Ranapur police inspector in charge RK Mandal told the Hindustan Times.

The injured were rushed to the hospitals in Bhubaneswar. However, two of them succumbed to their injuries, Nayagarh collector SK Choudhury said.

According to officials, the room which was used to feed the children was very old and dilapidated and collapsed after several bouts of rain.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik described the incident as "most unfortunate" and announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 1 lakh each to the families of those killed and free medical treatment for the injured.

The state government also initiated an enquiry into the incident.