JAIPUR: In Rajasthan, days after seven children died in Jhalawar due to a school roof collapse, another heartbreaking incident has allegedly taken place in Jaisalmer. A six-year-old student has died and a teacher was seriously injured when the main gate of Poonam Nagar Government School collapsed on Monday afternoon.
The incident occurred around 1 p.m. as students were exiting the school premises after classes. The school’s main iron gate, along with heavy stones, allegedly came crashing down.
First-grade student Arbaaz Khan, aged 9, died on the spot. A teacher nearby suffered serious head and leg injuries and was referred to Jawahar Hospital for treatment.
Injured teacher Ashok Kumar Soni said, “After the school got over I was coming out towards the gate. During this time some children were waiting for their siblings. Suddenly I saw that a heavy stone on top of the gate was falling down. I ran towards the gate and tried to stop the stone with my hands, but could not as it was too heavy. The stone first fell on me, after which the gate also fell and Arbaaz got hit by it. Due to my efforts some children were saved, otherwise more children could have been hit.”
“My head and leg got injured badly in the accident. I have got stitches on my head and my leg is fractured,” he added.
The accident has sparked massive outrage among locals. Villagers and the child’s family staged a sit-in protest outside the school with the boy’s body, alleging that the school gate had been in a dilapidated condition for a long time, but no repairs were undertaken despite repeated warnings.
Following a series of tragic accidents, including the recent roof collapse in Jhalawar's Peeplodi village that killed seven children and left 20 injured, the state’s education department has been jolted into action.
A massive survey of government school buildings is now underway across Rajasthan. So far, 2,256 dilapidated schools have been identified, and 7,500 buildings have been marked for repairs. District collectors have been asked to submit detailed reports by July 30.
On Sunday, Education Minister Madan Dilawar chaired a review meeting, during which he directed that all schools must undergo infrastructure surveys and that dilapidated school buildings would be closed immediately. Unsafe buildings will be demolished on priority, and temporary classes will be held in containers or alternate spaces.
Reacting to the incident, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot said that the chief minister should take immediate steps so that no other child loses their life in such incidents.
"The death of an innocent student due to the collapse of the school gate in Jaisalmer is very sad. After the Jhalawar tragedy, the death of a student in this manner should be a matter of concern for the state government," the Congress leader said.
"It is the rainy season. I request the chief minister to take immediate steps so that no other innocent child loses their life. I have deep condolences for the bereaved family," he posted on X.
The Directorate of Education has also issued new guidelines. In case of heavy rains or deteriorating school buildings, collectors may declare a two-day holiday for all schools, both government and private.
Furthermore, private schools will now be included in safety surveys. School buses will undergo vehicle fitness inspections, and driver medical checks will be enforced.
In a startling revelation, it has come to light that the education department enforces strict rules for private schools, including the submission of building safety certificates, fire safety clearances, and other compliance documents. Strangely, the department allegedly does not follow these protocols for its own government schools.
Under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SMSA), 268 engineers from other departments have been deputed to inspect school buildings and oversee construction quality. However, these engineers have rarely conducted any meaningful inspections. Instead, the department allegedly shifts the responsibility onto school teachers, who lack both the training and expertise to assess structural safety.
On July 14, Education Secretary Krishna Kunal had issued an order requiring PEEOs and UCEEOs to submit safety certificates stating that all schools under them were inspected and that safety deficiencies had been resolved. Yet, in most cases, the formality was completed merely on paper without physical inspection.
The incident came three days after a portion of the Piplodi Government School in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district collapsed, leaving seven children dead and 28 injured.
School Education and Panchayati Raj Minister Madan Dilawar, who chaired an emergency meeting with senior officials from both the departments, had said a proposal of Rs 150 crore under the disaster management fund has been prepared for repair works in 7,500 schools across 170 tehsils, officials said.
The move came amid growing concerns over the vulnerability of school infrastructure, especially during the monsoon season in southeastern Rajasthan.
Dilawar had said a statewide survey is being conducted by the district collectors to identify the dilapidated school buildings.
(With inputs from PTI)
