Jhalawar, Rajasthan – July 26, 2025: A tragic accident at Jhalawar today resulted in the collapse of a government school building, killing seven children and injuring 27 others. The tragic incident, which happened just minutes before the morning assembly, has raised fiery questions regarding accountability and suspected negligence.
The dead have been identified as Payal (12), Priyanka (12), Kundan (12), Harish (8), Kartik, and a brother and sister, Meena (12) and Kanha (6).
Warning by Students Ignored
Eyewitness testimony by the surviving students\’ depictions is shocking and reveals blatant disregard for warnings. One such student described the nightmare, saying, “When I arrived at school, the teacher instructed us to remain in the classroom until morning prayers. Then some gravel began falling from the roof. A student promptly alerted the teacher, who replied, \’Nothing was falling.\’ The roof subsequently collapsed. I managed to get out, but others were trapped.”
Another witness, a student, provided a startling additional detail: the teacher was allegedly snacking on \’poha,\’ a traditional breakfast food, when the roof collapsed. Students also claimed that they had raised concerns about the crumbling roof with school officials repeatedly, but no action was ever taken.
Officials Respond Amidst Outcry
In the wake of the incident, Jhalawar collector Ajay Singh alleged the building had not been included in the list of structures identified by the district administration as dilapidated and passed on to the education department. Still, the swift action taken belies the gravity of the situation, with five school officials already suspended.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma chaired an emergency-level meeting after the tragedy, giving tough instructions to the officers not to leave any other school building in the state in a ruinous state.
The country was in grief, with President Droupadi Murmu conveying heartfelt condolences on X, wishing strength to the aggrieved families. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also referred to the accident as “tragic” and “deeply saddening,” conveying his condolences to the victims and pledging all possible support. The accident is a stark reminder of the urgent necessity for strong maintenance of infrastructure and prompt addressing of safety issues, particularly in public areas such as schools.
