In a devastating incident that has shocked Rajasthan, seven students lost their lives and 28 others were injured after a government school building collapsed in Jhalawar district’s Peeplodi village on Friday morning. The collapse occurred around 7:45 AM, just as students of the upper primary government school were gathering for morning prayers.
According to local authorities, a section of the building housing Classes 6 and 7 suddenly caved in, burying nearly 35 children under the rubble. Chaos and desperation gripped the village as parents, villagers, and school staff rushed to rescue the children.
Among the deceased were Payal (14), Priyanka (14), Harish (8), Sona Bhai (5), Mithun (11), Kartik (18), and Meena (8), confirmed Manoharthana SHO Nandkishore Verma. At least nine injured students remain in critical condition in the ICU of the district hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief, calling the incident “tragic and deeply saddening” and assured all possible assistance from authorities. President Droupadi Murmu also offered condolences, praying for strength to the bereaved families.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma called the incident “heart-wrenching” and directed officials to provide urgent medical care to the injured. He also ordered accountability from local education officials.
Initial reports suggest that the collapsed structure was part of an older building constructed in 1994 by the Panchayati Raj department. It had been flagged for urgent repairs but reportedly saw no action. The collapse is believed to have been triggered by structural weaknesses worsened by recent heavy rainfall. A newer classroom built in 2011 remained intact.
In the wake of the tragedy, the state government suspended the school’s headmaster and four teachers. Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar announced a high-level inquiry into the incident and emphasized that ₹200 crore had already been sanctioned for repairs of nearly 1,000 aging government school buildings.
District Collector Ajay Singh revealed that the school was not marked unsafe in a recent structural safety survey, raising questions about oversight and negligence. Villagers, meanwhile, accused officials of ignoring repeated warnings about the deteriorating condition of the building.
Protests erupted soon after the incident, with locals blocking the Manoharthana-Aklera road demanding compensation for victims’ families and a visit from the Chief Minister. The Rajasthan State Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter, demanding a detailed report from district and education authorities and recommending legal action against those found negligent.
The tragedy has sparked fresh concerns over the condition of government school infrastructure across Rajasthan, particularly during the monsoon season, where poor maintenance continues to threaten the safety of students.
