A six-year-old student, Arbaz Khan, was killed and a teacher, Ashok Kumar Soni, injured when a pillar of the main gate at a government school in Jaisalmer’s Ramgarh area collapsed on Monday. The incident occurred as students were leaving for home, just days after a similar tragedy in Jhalawar claimed seven children’s lives. Police attribute the collapse to heavy winds, but grieving family members staged a protest outside the school, demanding accountability. Talks with the family are ongoing, said officials, as Soni receives treatment at the district hospital.

The incident follows the collapse of a school portion in Jhalawar, prompting former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to urge immediate action. “This is a matter of concern for the state government, especially during the rainy season,” Gehlot posted on X, offering condolences and calling for measures to prevent further tragedies.

In response to mounting concerns over school infrastructure, the state government announced urgent measures on Sunday. School Education Minister Madan Dilawar revealed a Rs 150 crore proposal under the disaster management fund to repair 7,500 schools across 170 tehsils. The plan includes closing unsafe buildings, demolishing hazardous structures, GIS-mapping vulnerable sites, and using AI to monitor structural safety. A statewide survey by district collectors is underway to identify dilapidated schools, particularly in monsoon-prone southeastern Rajasthan.

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The back-to-back incidents have sparked outrage, with parents and activists questioning the government’s oversight of aging school infrastructure. Rajasthan’s monsoon season, which brings heavy rainfall and strong winds, has exposed the fragility of many public buildings, raising fears of further accidents.

Also Read: Rajasthan CM’s Urgent Action: Save Lives by Fixing Crumbling Schools and Buildings!