Seven students killed as portion of school building collapses in Rajasthan

A portion of a government school in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district collapsed on Friday (July 25, 2025) just as the students were assembling for morning prayers, killing seven children and leaving 28 injured, some of them critically.

“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.

The injured were taken to the Jhalawar hospital and the Manoharthana health centre.

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.

Another local claimed that they had rescued the children and rushed them to the health centre in private vehicles before help from the administration arrived.

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.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the incident. In a post on X, he said, “The mishap at a school in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, is tragic and deeply saddening. My thoughts are with the affected students and their families in this difficult hour”.

“Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected,” he added.

Condoling the loss of lives, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma said, “The concerned officials have been directed to ensure proper treatment of the injured children.” “May God grant a place to the departed divine souls in his lotus feet and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this immense sorrow,” he said.

Education Minister Madan Dilawar said a high-level inquiry will be conducted into the incident.

He directed officials to rush to the spot and ensure that the children get proper treatment. “A very unfortunate incident occurred in Piplod village in Jhalawar where roof of a school collapsed. I have instructed district collector and education officer to make all kinds of arrangements for treatment. The collector and other officers have reached the spot,” he said.

“I will get a high-level inquiry done to find out why this incident happened, “ the minister said. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot hoped for the speedy recovery of the injured students.

“There are reports of many children and teachers getting injured due to the collapse of a government school building in Jhalawar’s Manoharthana. I pray to God for minimum loss of life and speedy recovery of the injured, “ he said on X.