Rajasthan school building collapse kills 7 children, sparks anger over official negligence

Jhalawar: A tragic start to the school day turned into horror on Friday morning when a portion of the Piplodi Government School building in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district collapsed, killing seven children and injuring 27 others -- several of them critically.

The building, which housed students from Classes 6 and 7, gave way just minutes after the morning prayers began. Police said about 35 students were trapped under the rubble of concrete, bricks, and stone. The youngest among the deceased was only six years old.

Victims and rescue efforts
Police received information about the incident at around 7.45 am. Nand Kishore Verma, Station House Officer of Manoharthana police station, confirmed the death toll.

The children who lost their lives have been identified as Payal (12), Harish (8), Priyanka (12), Kundan (12), Kartik, Meena (12), and her six-year-old brother Kanha.

Rescue operations began immediately, with local residents, teachers, and frantic parents pulling children from the debris. Many injured students were rushed to hospitals in private vehicles as ambulances reportedly took time to arrive. Nine children remain in the ICU at the district hospital.

Outrage over ignored warnings
Villagers erupted in protest soon after the incident, blocking roads and burning tyres. They accused the administration of gross negligence, saying repeated warnings about the unsafe condition of the school building had been ignored by both the tehsildar and the sub-divisional magistrate.

“This happened due to administrative negligence,” said Balkishan, a local resident who was among the first to respond. He described a chaotic scene with children screaming for help and volunteers desperately pulling slabs off the injured.

The village sarpanch, Ramprasad Lodha, also rushed to the site with a JCB machine to aid rescue efforts. Thirteen children were pulled from the wreckage, but seven of them later succumbed to their injuries. He claimed ambulances arrived nearly 45 minutes later, forcing villagers to use two-wheelers to transport the injured.

Administration responds
Jhalawar Collector Ajay Singh said the education department had recently been directed to submit a list of unsafe school buildings, but the Piplodi school was not flagged. “A high-level investigation has been ordered and action will be taken against those found responsible,” he said.

In immediate response, five school staff members were suspended and the remaining sections of the damaged school building were demolished to prevent further danger.

Voices from the school
A young girl who survived recounted her narrow escape: “We were sitting near the gate when small pieces of gravel started falling. Moments later, the adjoining classroom collapsed. We ran out just in time.”

Another student claimed tree branches had grown into the school walls and there was constant water seepage — clear signs the structure was unsafe.

Leaders react with condolences and promises
President Droupadi Murmu expressed deep grief over the tragedy, praying for the strength of the bereaved families and speedy recovery of the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed his condolences and said authorities were extending all possible assistance.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma assured that no school in Rajasthan should remain in a dilapidated condition. “Instructions have been issued to identify and address structural issues in schools immediately,” he said.

The Rajasthan Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognisance of the incident and issued notices to the district administration and police. It has sought a factual report and urged compensation for victims’ families.

Prominent leaders including Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Governor Haribhau Bagade, former chief ministers Ashok Gehlot and Vasundhara Raje, and many others also expressed condolences.

Education Minister Madan Dilawar, who was in Bharatpur when the incident occurred, rushed to Jhalawar, cutting short his engagements.

As grieving families kept vigil outside hospitals and funeral preparations began, one father cried inconsolably for his son, echoing the anguish of an entire village — a tragedy that many believe could have been avoided.