At least four children were killed and 17 others injured on Friday after the roof of a school building collapsed in India’s western state of Rajasthan, according to local media reports. Dozens more are feared trapped under the rubble as rescue operations continue.
The incident occurred shortly after morning prayers, with around 25 to 30 students reportedly inside the classroom at the time. Rajasthan’s Education Minister, Madan Dilawar, told local news outlet AajTak that the building collapsed suddenly, possibly due to ongoing heavy rainfall in the region.
A local police officer, speaking anonymously to Reuters, said the school structure was old and may have given way under pressure from the rain-soaked roof.
Television footage showed frantic rescue efforts, with emergency teams using cranes to clear debris and distraught families gathered at the scene. According to reports, 32 students have so far been rescued.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed his condolences and confirmed on X that authorities had been instructed to provide urgent medical care to the injured. Some of the children are reported to be in critical condition, according to police official Amit Kumar, cited by the Economic Times.
The incident has sparked renewed concerns about the safety of ageing infrastructure in public schools, particularly during India’s monsoon season.
Melissa Enoch
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