A portion of a government school in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district collapsed on Friday morning, killing seven children and leaving 28 injured, some of them critically. The part of the Piplod Government School building housing Classes 6 and 7 gave way, burying about 35 children, PTI reported.
The students were assembling for morning prayers when the incident took place. The police were informed at around 7:45 am.
Police said the children were pulled out of the debris with the help of teachers and villagers. Five of the children studying in the school in Jhalawar’s Manoharthana block, about 340 km from Jaipur, have been identified. They are Kundar, Kanha, Raidas, Anuradha and Badal Bhil, said Station House Officer, Manoharthana, Nand Kishore.
According to reports in the media, injured children have been rushed to Manohar Thana Community Health Centre (CHC) for urgent medical care, while officials are removing debris with the use of cranes. A doctor at the district hospital said nine of the injured were in the Intensive Care Unit.
Angry locals said they had informed the tehsildar and sub-divisional magistrate about the condition of the school building but no action was taken. "This happened due to negligence of the administration," Balkishan, a resident, told reporters. Another local claimed that they had rescued the children and rushed them to the health centre in private vehicles before help from the administration arrived.
According to Jhalawar collector Ajay Singh, however, the district administration had recently instructed the education department to give information about any dilapidated school building, but this one did not figure in the list.
“I will get it investigated, and action will be taken against whoever is found guilty," Singh told PTI.
Rajasthan CM expresses grief over loss of lives in Jhalawar
In a post on X, Rajasthan Chief Minister (CM) Bhajan Lal Sharma has expressed grief over the death of the children and said, "instructions have been given to the authorities concerned to ensure proper treatment of the injured children." Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully also expressed grief over the incident.
Jhalawar incident deeply saddening: PM Modi
On the school roof collapse, PM Modi said, "The mishap at a school in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, is tragic and deeply saddening. My thoughts are with the affected students and their families in this difficult hour. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected."
‘Extremely tragic’: President Murmu condoles loss of lives
President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the death of several students in the school building collapse in Rajasthan is extremely tragic, as she extended her condolences to the bereaved families.
“The news of the collapse of a school roof in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, resulting in the death and injury of several students, is extremely tragic. I pray that God grants strength to the grieving families to bear this pain.
“I wish for the speedy recovery of the students injured in this accident,” Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi.
Several other political leaders also expressed condolences over the incident. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, in a post on X, wrote, "In Manohar Thana, Jhalawar, reports are coming in of a government school building collapsing, causing casualties among several children and teachers. I pray to God for minimal loss of life and a speedy recovery for the injured."
Rajasthan Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa also paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the accident. "The tragic incident of the school roof collapsing in Piplodi, Jhalawar, is extremely sad and heart-wrenching. I offer my humble tribute to the children who lost their lives in this accident. Necessary instructions have been given to the authorities for the proper treatment of the injured children," Bairwa wrote on X.
Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariywas, reacting to the incident on X, wrote, "The collapse of the roof of a government school in Jhalawar district, resulting in the death of 5 children and injuries to more than 30, is extremely tragic and heart-wrenching. I pray to God that this accident causes minimal loss of life and that the injured recover quickly. In this hour of crisis, we all stand with the affected families."
Law enforcement and administrative personnel have arrived at the site and are actively overseeing rescue and relief operations. An investigation into the cause of the structural collapse is anticipated to be launched by the authorities soon.
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