New Delhi: At least four children were killed and 17 wounded in India’s western state of Rajasthan, after the roof of a school building collapsed Friday, reported local media, with dozens still fearing trapped under the rubble.
Visuals from news channels showed locals around the collapse as authorities used a crane to remove the waste.
Local media reported that students participated in classes in a government school in Jhalawar as the building collapsed.
The incident took place around 1 p.m. 8:30 Local time at Piplodi Government School in Manohar Thana, Jhalawar District, according to Ndtv. Officials said that about 40 children with teachers and staff were present when the roof of the building with one floor collapsed.
According to NdtvThe building was in a fallen state and had been the subject of previous complaints. The school offers education up to class 8.
“Instructions have been given to the authorities concerned to ensure proper treatment of the wounded children,” said Rajasthan chief minister Bhajanlal Sharma in a post on X.
Some of the wounded children were in critical condition, the local police officer AMIT Kumar confirmed to PTI, The financial times reported.
“Four children have died and 17 others are injured. Ten children have been referred to Jhalawar, three to four are critical,” Jhalawar said Superintendent of Police AMIT Kumar for News Agency PTI.
The Indian Express Cited Dangipura police station Asi Abdul Hakim as saying that the students who died were between 14 and 16 years. High -ranking officials from the district administration, police and education department rushed to the scene and began rescue operations.
The wounded were first taken to the Manoharthana Community Health Center (CHC), where doctors declared four children died. Eight critically wounded students were referred to Jhalawar District Hospital for further treatment, The Indian Express reported.
