Three of a family, including a 12-year-old boy, died on Friday after a wall of a mill collapsed in the early hours of Friday in Narela area of Outer Delhi.

The police said the incident occurred around 12.15 am on Friday when the three victims - Qayamuddin (70), his wife, Noor Bano and their grandson Shoaib were sleeping in a room of their single-storeyed house in Qurani village.

“We got a call that a 12-feet high wall had collapsed and occupants of the adjacent house were trapped inside. When we reached the spot, we found three people trapped under the debris. We managed to pull them out, but they succumbed to injuries,” police officers said.

“The mill wall was so heavy that the ceiling of the house, which shared the boundary, broke down and crushed the victims,” the police added.

Fire officials also arrived at the spot along with the police and the debris was cleared up. There were five more family members who escaped as they were sleeping in another room.

The police officers added that the mill, owned by one Vijay, is illegal. Vijay is absconding.

Investigating officers said they have taken down the statements of the victims’ relatives. A case has also been registered at the Narela police station against the mill owner and a search is on.

Area locals, meanwhile, alleged there are more than a dozen other mills that are being run illegally in the area as a result of the official apathy. “Neither the police nor the civic authorities take any action against them,” Ramesh, a local, said.