Camilla Jessen
Calls for accountability are growing.
At least seven children have died and 26 others were injured after part of a school building collapsed on Friday morning in India’s western state of Rajasthan, according to local police.
The tragedy struck while students were attending class.
Police officer Nand Kishore confirmed the incident to AFP and Digi24, saying the collapse happened in the Jhalawar district, located roughly 322 kilometers from the state capital Jaipur.
Around 60 students, teachers, and staff were believed to be inside the building when the roof and part of the structure gave way.
Locals Rushed to Help
As news of the collapse spread, villagers rushed to the scene, working alongside rescue teams to pull victims from the debris.
The injured were taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Reports in Indian media say that community members had raised concerns in recent months about the crumbling state of the school building.
Heavy Rainfall May Have Played a Role
The collapse follows days of heavy rain in the region, which may have weakened the already deteriorating structure.
Although the precise cause of the collapse has not yet been confirmed, extreme weather and aging infrastructure are widely seen as contributing factors.
In response, Rajasthan’s Education Minister Madan Dilawar announced a “high-level inquiry” to determine what went wrong and vowed support for those injured.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the incident in a post on X, calling the collapse “tragic and deeply sad.”
“My thoughts are with the affected students and their families,” Modi said, adding that authorities are “providing assistance to those affected.”
