Rajasthan School Collapse Claims Seven Young Lives

Grief-stricken families question authorities after tragedy

Heartbreaking accounts are emerging from the Jhalawar school tragedy, where seven young children perished and others were injured when a primary school building collapsed Friday. The devastating incident at Piplodi Primary School in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district has left communities reeling.

Mothers’ Anguish and Unanswered Questions

One inconsolable mother, who lost her 12-year-old daughter, Meena, and six-year-old son, Kanha, expressed a parent’s deepest despair: I’ve lost everything… I had only two children and both are gone. My home is empty… There’s no one left to play in the courtyard. I wish God had taken me instead and spared my children. Kanha was the youngest victim.

Another grieving mother voiced suspicions about the conduct of the school staff during the catastrophic event. The teachers went outside, leaving the children behind. What were they doing outside? she questioned, highlighting a critical point of inquiry.

The seven children who lost their lives were identified as Meena, her brother Kanha, Payal, Priyanka, Kundan (all 12 years old), Harish (eight years old), and Kartik.

Community Mourns as Officials Respond

On Saturday morning, the seven young victims were laid to rest. Five were cremated together on a single pyre, a somber reflection of the collective loss.

Earlier, agonizing scenes unfolded outside the SRG Hospital mortuary in Jhalawar as distraught parents and relatives collected their children’s bodies. Some clung tightly to the shrouded forms, unwilling to accept the finality, while others remained in a state of shock, grappling with the sudden, brutal impact of the disaster.

The scale of such tragedies underscores the importance of school safety regulations. In 2021, a school building collapse in India killed 23 students, prompting nationwide reviews of construction standards and maintenance (NDTV, 2021).

Investigation Underway, Compensation Announced

In response to the disaster, authorities have ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. Five school staffers have been suspended as a preliminary measure.

The state School Education Minister has announced compensation of ₹10 lakh for each family that lost a child in the collapse. Jhalawar District Collector Ajay Singh met with the bereaved families on Saturday to offer condolences.

Speaking to reporters, Singh assured that appropriate action would be taken against those found responsible. Five school staffers have been suspended, and a probe committee has been constituted. If needed, an FIR will be registered. If suspension has to turn to expulsion, that will be done, he stated, signaling a thorough investigation.