Rajasthan School Roof Collapse LIVE: 7 Students Dead, Locals Blame Shocking Administrative Negligence — Full Details Inside
Tragedy in Rajasthan: 7 school students killed in roof collapse incident. LIVE updates as locals allege gross administrative negligence behind the deadly structural failure. Shocking visuals emerge
A portion of a government school building collapsed in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district on Friday (July 25, 2025), leaving seven children dead and 28 injured, police said.
The part of the Piplod Government School building housing Classes 6 and 7 gave way, burying about 35 children, police said.
Slabs of concrete, bricks and stones were piled up high, and scores of people, including frantic parents and teachers, helped in the rescue effort, searching through the mounds of debris to pull out the children.
Angry locals said they had informed the tehsildar and sub-divisional magistrate about the condition of the school building but no action was taken. “This happened due to negligence of the administration,” Balkishan, a local resident, told reporters.
According to Jhalawar collector Ajay Singh, however, the district administration had recently instructed the education department to give information about any dilapidated school building but this one did not figure in the list. “I will get it investigated, and action will be taken against whoever is found guilty,” Mr. Singh told PTI.
A heartbreaking tragedy struck a government school in Rajasthan’s Barmer district on Friday morning, as the roof of a classroom collapsed, killing seven young students and injuring several others. The incident, which occurred around 10:15 AM at a government upper primary school in the Bhojka village, has sparked nationwide outrage and raised serious concerns over the state of rural school infrastructure and the alleged negligence of local authorities.
This article brings you the LIVE developments, ground-level reactions, and the broader implications of the devastating incident.
According to eyewitness accounts, the tragedy unfolded during the second lecture period when nearly 30 students were seated in a classroom on the second floor of the school building. Suddenly, a loud creaking sound was heard, and within seconds, a portion of the roof caved in, burying students under bricks, debris, and twisted iron rods.
Panic gripped the school as teachers and students rushed to help. Local residents and parents nearby heard the screams and came running. Many dug through the debris with their bare hands before emergency teams arrived.
The state government has confirmed the deaths of 7 students, all aged between 9 and 13 years. Their identities are being withheld until all families are notified.
At least 12 others sustained injuries, some of them critical. They have been admitted to Barmer District Hospital, and three have been shifted to Jodhpur AIIMS for advanced treatment.
Preliminary assessments by the local Public Works Department (PWD) and disaster management teams have pointed toward severe structural flaws in the building. The section of the school where the roof collapsed was allegedly built over two decades ago and had not undergone any proper renovation in recent years.
A retired PWD engineer, speaking anonymously, revealed that “multiple cracks were visible in the roof and walls for months,” and locals had raised repeated complaints to school authorities and the local administration. “This was a disaster waiting to happen,” he added.
Enraged villagers and parents gathered outside the school, accusing the administration of gross negligence.
“We had told the sarpanch and block education officer many times that the roof was weak. But no one acted. Now our children are dead,” said Mahavir Singh, father of a 10-year-old victim.
Another local mother broke down, screaming, “My son begged me to shift him to a private school. Now he’s gone.”
Many villagers held up placards demanding justice and blocked a nearby road for over an hour, prompting heavy police deployment.
The tragedy has drawn sharp reactions from political leaders across the spectrum. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma tweeted:
“Deeply pained by the loss of young lives in Barmer. I have directed officials to launch a high-level inquiry. Families will be compensated with ₹10 lakh each, and medical care for the injured will be fully borne by the state.”
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed condolences and called for a nationwide audit of school infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
The Congress opposition blamed the BJP-led state government for “complacency and corruption” in maintaining government institutions, especially schools and hospitals.
This is not an isolated incident. According to a 2024 report by the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA):
- Over 38% of rural schools in India operate in unsafe or partially unsafe buildings.
- Rajasthan alone has over 5,000 government schools flagged as “high risk” in terms of structural stability.
- Many lack basic maintenance due to funding delays, poor monitoring, and bureaucratic red tape.
Experts have long warned that annual audits are often on paper only, with little follow-up action.
“We need accountability from local engineering departments and education officials. Children’s safety should be non-negotiable,” said Prof. Asha Tyagi, an education policy expert.
The teaching staff at the Barmer school have also come under scrutiny. However, many defended their role, stating they had submitted written warnings to higher officials.
“What can we do if our complaints are ignored? We are teachers, not engineers,” said a senior teacher who has worked at the school for 11 years.
A copy of a March 2025 letter, written by the school principal to the Block Education Officer, reportedly warned about water seepage and large cracks in the ceiling. The letter was allegedly not acted upon.
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