Tragedy Strikes Rajasthan School as Roof Collapse Claims Seven Young Lives

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Seven children tragically died and at least 21 others sustained injuries when a classroom ceiling collapsed at the Piplodi Government Upper Primary School in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district on Friday morning, July 25, 2025. The devastating incident occurred moments after students had gathered for morning prayers, highlighting critical concerns about the safety and maintenance of public school infrastructure.

The collapse unfolded around 8:00 a.m. local time, burying approximately 35 students from different classes under debris. Initial reports indicate that students had alerted a teacher to “falling brick pieces” from the ceiling just moments before the collapse, but were allegedly told to “sit quietly.” Rains had forced the students indoors for morning prayers, a deviation from their usual routine on the ground. According to one surviving student, “We told sir that pieces of the ceiling were falling on us but he ignored it.” The rear wall of the classroom reportedly collapsed first, leading to the roof caving in.

Following the tragedy, immediate rescue efforts were launched by villagers, who used a payloader to assist in clearing the debris and pulled out at least 13 children within 20 minutes. Many injured students were rushed to local hospitals, some on motorcycles, before ambulances arrived. Ten of the injured remain in critical condition.

The incident has led to swift action by authorities. Principal Meena Garg and four teachers have been suspended for alleged negligence, pending a high-level investigation. Rajasthan’s School Education Minister, Madan Dilawar, accepted moral responsibility for the tragedy, stating, “We will conduct a fair investigation and strict action will be taken against those found guilty.” He also announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹10 lakh (approximately $12,000 USD) and a contractual government job for one family member of each victim.

The classroom, built in 1994, was reportedly three decades old. While funds were recently released for repairs for 2,000 dilapidated government schools in phases, officials are investigating whether the Piplodi school’s repairs were completed. District officials stated that the school building had not been flagged as unsafe in a recent survey. This incident underscores the urgent need for comprehensive safety audits and robust maintenance programs for public school buildings, especially in regions prone to heavy monsoon rains that can exacerbate structural weaknesses.