Piplodi school roof collapse

Piplodi school roof collapse
Date25 July 2025 (2025-07-25)
Time8.00 am IST (UTC+05:30)
LocationPiplodi, Rajasthan, India
Coordinates24°15′18″N 76°43′58″E / 24.2551014°N 76.7327599°E / 24.2551014; 76.7327599
CauseStructural failure
Deaths7
Non-fatal injuries27

On 25 July 2025, part of a classroom roof collapsed in the Piplodi Government School in the Indian state of Rajasthan, killing seven students and injuring 27 others.

Incident

The collapse occurred around 8 a.m. IST (UTC+05:30), shortly before the morning assembly began.[1] Students reportedly noticed falling debris and alerted the teachers, who dismissed the warnings and instructed them to remain seated. Moments later, the classroom wall and roof gave away, burying 35 children under the debris. The incident resulted in the deaths of seven students with ages ranging from 7 to 13 years, and injuring 27 others.[2]

The injured were taken to the Manoharthana primary health centre, with the critically injured patients later transferred to Jhalawar district hospital.[3]

Aftermath

A five-member committee led by the local zila parishad was tasked with investigating the causes of the collapse. Criminal complaints were filed against the school headmaster and five teachers, who were later suspended.[4]

Bhajan Lal Sharma, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, mourned the tragedy, and ordered a safety inspection of all school buildings in the state and sealing of unsafe buildings.[5] The Government of Rajasthan announced a compensation of ₹1 million (US$12,000) and a government job to one member from each of the families of the killed.[6] The union education ministry directed all states and territories to conduct safety audits of school buildings for structural integrity and fire safety, conduct emergency drills, and ensure mental health preparedness.[7]

The school was to resume functioning at a nearby government school on 28 July, while a new school building featuring classrooms named in memory of the children is to be constructed.[8] The government proposed that ₹1.5 billion (US$18 million) would be spent on repairing classrooms in schools throughout the state, and school buildings deemed unrepairable would be razed and replaced with temporary containers, while the rest would be cataloged and monitored.[9] On 6 September 2025, Mor Singh, a 60-year-old farm labourer, donated his two-room house for temporary use for the school and proposed to move his family into a temporary shelter on his farmland. In recognition, the Rajasthan government announced a ₹0.2 million (US$2,400) aid for Singh.[10]

Reactions

Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, offered her condolences and prayers to the families of the deceased.[11] Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, expressed his grief on the incident.[12] Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, demanded a fair investigation, and punishment for those responsible for the incident.[13] Other leaders, including former chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot and Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla also expressed grief.[14]

The opposition criticised state education minister Madan Dilawar for the poor state of school infrastructure, with calls for his resignation due to dereliction of duty and after he appeared at a welcome celebration in Jagheena the day after the incident.[15][16]

On 29 July, Rashtriya Loktantrik Partyleader Hanuman Beniwal, Bharat Adivasi Party leader Rajkumar Roat, and Azad Samaj Party leader Chandrashekhar Azad protested outside the Parliament of India, demanding accountability and compensation for the collapse.[17][18] Later, Beniwal asserted that all government officials and political leaders should enroll their children in government schools, arguing that this would lead to an improvement in the quality of public education.[19] In September 2025, Naresh Meena attempted to march to the chief minister's residence and launched a hunger strike in Jaipur demanding compensation for victims.[20][21]

References

  1. ^ Zargar, Arshad R. (25 July 2025). "At least 7 children killed as India school roof collapses after weeks of monsoon rains". CBS News. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Students warned of cracks minutes before roof collapse that killed 7 in Rajasthan school, but teachers ignored". The Hindustan Times. 26 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Seven students killed as roof of govt school collapses in Rajasthan". The Indian Express. 26 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Education department takes action in Jhalwar accdeint". NDTV (in Hindi). 27 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Govt's BIG move after Rajasthan school roof collapse: Safety audit is mandatory for all schools, student facilities". Live Mint. 26 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Rajasthan govt. announces ₹10 lakh each to kin of children killed in Jhalawar school building collapse". The Hindu. 26 July 2025. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Centre orders safety audit of all govt schools after Rajasthan roof collapse kills 7 children". The Indian Express. 26 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Rajasthan: Last rites of 7 children killed in school roof collapse held, case lodged against teachers". The Print. 26 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Rajasthan to demolish unsafe buildings, have AI-based monitoring as school collapse kills 7 children". India Today. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Jhalawar man gives up house, lives on farm, to make space for classrooms after school collapsed". The Hindustan Times. 6 September 2025. Retrieved 6 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Rajasthan School collapse leaves 7 dead; PM Modi, President Murmu offer prayers and support". The Economic Times. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Prime Minister expresses grief on school mishap at Jhalawar, Rajasthan". Press Information Bureau. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  13. ^ "Rajasthan School Collapse: Rahul Gandhi Demands Probe, Punishment for Negligence". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  14. ^ Saini, Sachin (25 July 2025). "Seven children dead, 28 injured as school building collapses in Rajasthan's Jhalawar". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  15. ^ Asnani, Rajesh (27 July 2025). "Jhalawar School tragedy puts Rajasthan Education Minister in the dock: Will he Resign?". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Jully slams Dilawar for 'grand welcome'". The Times of India. 27 July 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  17. ^ "MPs protest outside Parliament demanding justice for Jhalawar victims". The Times of India. 29 July 2025. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Jhalawar school roof collapse sparks uproar in Lok Sabha: Beniwal demands action against collector in ongoing case of 7 children's deaths". Bhaskar English. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  19. ^ Asnani, Rajesh (25 July 2025). "Seven students dead, over 25 injured after school building collapses in Rajasthan's Jhalawar". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 27 July 2025. Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal stated in Parliament that the children of all government officers and leaders should be educated in government schools to ensure the quality of public education improves.
  20. ^ "Naresh Meena begins hunger strike against Rajasthan government: Demands justice for Jhalawar school collapse victims; appeals to Pilot and Beniwal for support". Bhaskar English. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  21. ^ "Police admit Naresh Meena to SMS Hospital: After 6 days hunger strike in Jaipur demanding compensation for Jhalawar victims, his condition required medical attention". Bhaskar English. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
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