At least six students lost their lives and 29 others were injured two of them critically after a portion of the roof of the Government Upper Primary School in Piplod village, Jhalawar district, collapsed on July 25 morning during the morning prayer assembly. The incident, which occurred around 7:45 am, has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about the structural safety and maintenance of school infrastructure across Rajasthan.
According to preliminary reports, around 17 students were inside the building when a section of the classrooms designated for Classes 6 and 7 gave way without warning. The collapsed portion buried several students under debris, prompting a desperate rescue operation by local authorities, villagers, and police.
Senior police officials, including SHO Vijendra Singh of Dangipura police station and Circle Inspector Nandkishore from Manoharthana, confirmed the fatalities and provided updates from the local hospital. “Four students were declared dead shortly after being brought in. Two others succumbed to their injuries during treatment,” said Inspector Nandkishore. “Eight students were critically injured, and two have been referred to a higher medical centre. The rest are under treatment in Jhalawar.”
The Government Upper Primary School in Piplod village reportedly has only 27 students in total, and most of them were present on the premises at the time of the collapse. Jhalawar SP Amit Kumar Budania and the District Collector reached the site immediately upon receiving the alert. “3-4 students died on the spot. Many others are injured. We have ensured that all trapped students were pulled out from the rubble and rushed to nearby hospitals,” SP Budania said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and assured that all necessary support is being provided. “The collapse is 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,” the PM posted on X.
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…
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 25, 2025
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma termed the incident “heart-wrenching” and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of young lives. “The tragic accident caused by the collapse of a school roof in Piplod, Jhalawar, is extremely sorrowful and heart-wrenching. Instructions have been given to the concerned authorities to ensure proper treatment for the injured children,” Sharma posted on X. He also offered prayers for the departed souls and strength to the grieving families.
झालावाड़ के पीपलोदी में विद्यालय की छत गिरने से हुआ दर्दनाक हादसा अत्यंत दुःखद एवं हृदयविदारक है।
घायल बच्चों के समुचित उपचार सुनिश्चित करने हेतु संबंधित अधिकारियों को निर्देशित किया गया है।
ईश्वर दिवंगत दिव्य आत्माओं को अपने श्रीचरणों में स्थान प्रदान करें तथा शोकाकुल परिजनों…
— Bhajanlal Sharma (@BhajanlalBjp) July 25, 2025
State School Education Minister Madan Dilawar announced an official investigation into the incident. “We have launched a probe to determine the cause of the collapse. A team of engineers is examining the structural integrity of all buildings on the school campus to ensure such a disaster never occurs again,” he stated.
Sources within the local administration indicated that the school building was decades old and may not have undergone regular safety inspections. Locals allege that despite visible cracks and complaints in the past, no meaningful repairs were carried out by the education department or the local Panchayat body.
While officials have been tight-lipped about the structural history of the school, eyewitnesses suggest that the collapse was sudden, with no warning signs. A villager who helped in the rescue effort said, “We heard a loud crash and rushed in. Children were screaming, trapped under bricks and rubble. It was horrific.”
