7 Children Dead in Rajasthan School Collapse: Grief Turns to Rage as Parents Vandalise Police Vehicle

A heartbreaking tragedy in Jhalawar district, Rajasthan, has sparked public outrage after seven students were killed and over 20 injured in a school roof collapse. The grief-stricken families and villagers—angry at what they call “criminal negligence”—vandalised a police vehicle, demanding justice, accountability, and swift action.

The Tragedy: What Happened at the School

On the morning of July 25, 2025, at a government upper-primary school in Piplodi village, students had just begun assembling for the morning routine. As they gathered in their classroom, the roof suddenly caved in, burying dozens under the rubble.

Aged Infrastructure to Blame?

• The classroom was part of a building constructed in 1994.
• Locals allege cracks and dampness had been visible for weeks, worsened by monsoon rains.
• Despite having received funds for repairs in 2022, the roof was never fully reinforced, according to district-level audit reports.

They Warned the Teacher, But She Ignored Them”

Survivors revealed chilling details of the moments before the collapse: We saw the ceiling shake and small pieces fall. We told the teacher… she told us to sit down quietly. She went to eat her breakfast,” said a 10-year-old survivor, admitted to SRG Hospital in Jhalawar.

Within minutes, the entire roof slab collapsed, crushing students in the front rows. Seven children, aged between 8 and 13, died on the spot or on the way to hospital. Twenty-one others sustained injuries, some critical.

Public Outrage: Grief Erupts Into Protest

The community, overwhelmed with grief and shock, soon turned its emotions toward anger. As parents gathered outside the school and hospital, they demanded:

• Arrest of negligent staff
• Suspension of education department officials
• Immediate compensation and infrastructure audit

A police vehicle that arrived for crowd control was vandalised by villagers, who broke its windshield and damaged the frame. Videos shared online show people surrounding the vehicle and shouting slogans like:
Sarkar murdabad! Zimmedar afsaron ko giraftar karo

The situation escalated to the point where riot police were called, and a mild lathi-charge was used to disperse the crowd, worsening tensions further.

Accountability & Suspensions Begin

Following widespread backlash, the Rajasthan government announced:

• Suspension of the school principal and four staff members, pending investigation.
• Education Minister Madan Dilawar accepted “moral responsibility” and promised a high-level probe into the incident.
• The district collector ordered a structural audit of all government schools in the region.

Parents’ Voices: “Our Children Died in a Trap, Not a Classroom”

The parents of the deceased and injured students expressed deep mistrust in the system:
What kind of school ignores visible cracks? My son begged not to go to school yesterday,” cried one mother at the hospital gates.

Others demanded manslaughter charges against negligent officials. The absence of a safety protocol, even during active rainfall, became a key point of protest.

School Infrastructure in India: A Systemic Risk?

The Jhalawar collapse is not an isolated case. Across India, nearly 25% of government school buildings are considered ‘unsafe’ or ‘semi-dilapidated’, according to ASER reports.

In most cases, poor maintenance, lack of timely audits, and delayed construction grants cause unsafe learning environments—especially in rural areas.

Government Response & Relief Package

Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma announced the following measures:

• ₹10 lakh compensation to each victim’s family
• A government job for one member from each affected household
• Medical expenses for all injured children covered
• Construction of new classrooms in victims’ names

Yet many parents remain unconvinced, saying: Money cannot bring back our children. We want justice, not PR

Political Fallout: Audit Demands and Blame Game

Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje visited grieving families and blamed the education department for “shameful mismanagement.” She urged:

• A statewide structural safety audit
• Monthly status updates from block-level education officers
• Third-party inspection of schools built before 2000

Meanwhile, opposition parties accused the current BJP-led administration of “criminal negligence” and demanded a judicial inquiry.