Tragedy Strikes Rajasthan: Mother’s Heartbreaking Loss in Jhalawar School Collapse
Seven children dead, families demand justice after tragedy.
A devastating collapse at Piplod Government School in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district claimed seven young lives on Friday, leaving families and a community in profound grief. Among them, a mother’s anguished words echo: “My home is empty... no one left to play.” Having lost her only two children—a boy and a girl—she wished God had taken her instead.
The tragedy struck during morning prayers, when a portion of the 35-year-old building caved in, burying 35 students from Classes 6 and 7 under concrete and debris. Seven children, including six-year-old Kanha and his sister Meena (12), Payal (12), Harish (8), Priyanka (12), Kundan (12), and Kartik, lost their lives. Twenty-eight others were injured, some critically.
On Saturday, heart-wrenching scenes unfolded outside SRG Hospital’s mortuary as families received the bodies. Five children were cremated together, while two were laid to rest separately. Another grieving mother questioned the teachers’ actions, alleging they left the children unattended. “What were they doing outside?” she demanded.
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The collapse has sparked outrage over neglected rural school infrastructure. Locals claim they had warned authorities about the building’s dilapidated state, but no action was taken. District Collector Ajay Singh, who met grieving families, assured accountability. “Five staffers are suspended, and a probe is underway. If needed, an FIR will be filed,” he said, adding that a new school building is planned and financial aid of Rs 10 lakh per family will be provided within 10 days.
Anger spilled onto the streets as villagers blocked roads, with protests turning violent at Guradi Circle, where a policeman was injured. Despite recent directives to identify unsafe schools, Singh noted no prior complaints about this building were received, a claim locals dispute. The tragedy underscores systemic failures, leaving a community mourning and demanding justice.
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