Wall Collapse at Odisha State-Run Residential School Kills Class 3 Student, Injures Two

A class 3 student died and two others were injured after a wall partially collapsed at a state-run residential school in Odisha’s Koraput district, police reported on Thursday. The incident happened at Gandhi

Nagar Ashram (for SC and ST students) in Kotpad on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as eight-year-old Premananda Bhatra. The injured students were initially treated in Kotpad and later referred to the district headquarters hospital in Jeypore, according to PTI.

One of the injured students was discharged after initial treatment and returned to the hostel. The other, who sustained a leg injury, is still receiving treatment at the district headquarters hospital, said district welfare officer Sunil Kumar Tandi.

“One of the injured students was discharged after preliminary treatment and has returned to the hostel, while the other, who suffered a leg injury, is undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital,” Tandi stated.

Officials reported that the incident occurred within the hostel premises. A four-foot-high wall with an inauguration plaque suddenly collapsed, the report added.

Calling the incident unfortunate, Tandi stated that an inquiry committee has been established, chaired by the Jeypore sub-collector. This committee will conduct a thorough investigation and submit its findings to the district collector for necessary action.

The Gandhi Nagar Ashram School, run by the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Development Department, offers education for children from SC and ST communities from Classes 1 to 8.

Earlier in July, a similar incident took place in Rajasthan when at least seven children were killed after the roof of a primary school collapsed on July 25th morning. The roof of Piplodi Primary School in in Jhalawar collapsed trapping more than 60 children under the rubble. Five teachers from the school were suspended. The structure consisted of four classrooms, including the one that collapsed, and was constructed in 1994 by the gram panchayat, PTI reported.