A tragic incident occurred on Friday morning in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, where the roof of a primary school in Piplodi collapsed, resulting in the deaths of at least four children. Several others are feared trapped under the debris, and rescue operations are currently underway.
The collapse occurred during school hours, catching students, teachers, and staff off guard. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and chaos as people scrambled to escape the falling structure. Rescue teams, along with local residents, quickly arrived at the scene and are working tirelessly to remove rubble using JCB machines.
Local authorities and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were immediately deployed to the scene. Injured children are being rushed to the Manohar Thana Community Health Centre for immediate medical attention. Emergency medical teams are attending to the injured, many of whom have sustained critical head and spinal injuries. Victims are also being transported to nearby hospitals, including the district hospital in Jhalawar, where medical personnel are on high alert.
Parents and relatives gathered outside the school, anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones. The Chief Minister of Rajasthan expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and vowed immediate assistance to those affected. A compensation package is expected to be announced soon.
Preliminary investigations into the Piplodi Primary School roof collapse suggest possible structural weaknesses in the decades-old building. However, an official statement on the cause has not yet been released. Authorities have promised a full investigation and assured that accountability will be enforced.
This tragic incident raises serious concerns about infrastructure safety in older school buildings across rural India, where maintenance is often neglected due to limited funding. Officials urge the public to stay away from the site to allow rescue workers to carry out their operations.