Jhalawar, Rajasthan – July 26, 2025:
A tragic school building collapse in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district has sparked a political storm. The disaster took place at a government primary school in Bhopal’s Upper Primary School. A classroom wall gave way during heavy rainfall. The collapsing wall crushed several students who had stayed indoors for safety.

The tragedy has taken on a strong political dimension, with Congress leaders accusing the BJP government of negligence. Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra said, “This is not just a natural disaster. It is murder due to the government’s negligence.” The party demanded Education Minister Madan Dilawar’s resignation, citing systemic failure and a misplaced focus on government priorities.

The collapse drew sharp criticism from both the opposition and members of the ruling BJP. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, a senior BJP leader, openly criticized her own party’s state government. Calling it “not an accident but murder,” Raje demanded accountability, saying the tragedy was preventable with timely repairs.

According to reports, the school building was already in a poor state and had not seen proper maintenance in years. Built in 1994, the school had been flagged as unsafe several times. Villagers said they repeatedly warned officials, but the administration took no action.

On the day of the incident, students had remained inside the classroom due to heavy rains. Witnesses reported that within seconds, the building’s rear wall collapsed, causing the roof to cave in. The debris buried several children. Rescuers, including villagers and teachers, pulled out at least 13 students within 20 minutes.

Eyewitness Prasad Lodha, who helped in the rescue effort, said the first official help arrived 45 minutes after the collapse. “We had no choice but to dig with our hands and tools available at the spot,” he said. Lodha also helped shift injured students to a nearby hospital. Education Secretary Krishna Kunal admitted the classroom was dilapidated and noted earlier orders to identify unsafe schools. He also promised a state-wide school infrastructure audit.

Preliminary reports suggest the children stayed in the classroom to avoid rain instead of attending morning prayers outside. However, due to the weakened structure, the rear wall gave way under pressure, leading to the collapse.

This tragic incident has once again exposed the poor state of public infrastructure in rural India and the need for urgent reforms in school safety. While political blame continues to swirl, grieving families await justice for their children lost to a preventable disaster. With a formal probe underway and public anger rising, the government faces growing pressure to prevent such tragedies.

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