Six Students Killed as Government School Roof Collapses in Rajasthan
A tragic incident in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district saw a portion of a government school building collapse, killing six students and injuring more than 30 others. The collapse occurred at the Peeplodi Government School while students were in their classroom. Local villagers and teachers initiated rescue efforts, pulling victims from the debris. The state government has ordered a high-level investigation into the incident, which residents claim was caused by the building's long-term deterioration exacerbated by recent heavy rainfall.
Unpacked:
The school was operating out of an old and dilapidated structure. Persistent heavy rainfall over several days likely exacerbated its deteriorated condition, ultimately leading to the collapse during school hours.
The Rajasthan government promised a high-level inquiry into the incident and assured that all injured children will receive state-funded medical treatment. Political leaders, including the Chief Minister, have expressed grief, and rescue operations were promptly launched with disaster response teams.
The incident has sparked a political blame game. The ruling BJP blamed the previous Congress government for infrastructure neglect, while Congress leaders argued that the current administration is also responsible for failing to act on regular safety reports and improve school conditions in their tenure.
According to opposition leaders, the Education Department submits school safety reports every three months. However, questions have arisen about whether these inspections were acted upon, as critics claim warnings about the school’s condition were ignored by authorities.