How Did Students and Teacher Escape as Concrete Plaster Falls in Bhopal School?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Immediate evacuation: Quick action by the teacher prevented injuries.
- Urgent safety concerns: The incident has raised alarms about school infrastructure.
- Political accountability: Calls for the ruling party to take responsibility.
- Social media impact: The event has gone viral, increasing public scrutiny.
- Inquiry ordered: Minister Uday Pratap Singh has initiated an investigation.
Bhopal, July 19 (NationPress) Students and a female teacher at a school narrowly avoided disaster when a large piece of concrete plaster unexpectedly fell from the classroom ceiling, causing fear and chaos in Madhya Pradesh's capital, Bhopal.
This alarming incident took place at the government-operated 'PM Shri' school located in the Barkheda Pathani area of Bhopal, which is just 10 km from the MP School Education Board's office and the state's administrative hub, Vallabh Bhavan.
A video circulating on social media captured the moment when girl students were in the classroom, with a female teacher instructing them. Suddenly, a concrete slab crashed down onto a bench in the front row, just missing at least four to five girl students and the teacher. This terrifying occurrence was enough to trigger panic among the students, prompting the teacher to evacuate the classroom.
The building where this incident occurred is a girls' higher secondary school in Barkheda Pathani, situated near the BHEL area. Reports indicate that the condition of this school structure is quite poor.
The event has ignited controversy, with the opposition Congress party expressing serious concerns regarding the safety of schoolchildren. Social media users have been sharing the video, questioning the measures taken to ensure child safety. Senior Congress leader and former minister, P. C. Sharma, criticized the ruling BJP, claiming that simply renaming the school won’t suffice to improve the education system.
"It’s disgraceful that under BJP governance, a place meant for education has turned into a potential death trap. Will the minister continue to evade responsibility?" Sharma questioned. His post on X further states, "Simply adding the 'PM Shri' label to schools doesn't rectify their conditions; otherwise, plaster wouldn’t have fallen in Barkheda Pathani."
According to IANS, the issue has been brought to the attention of School Education Minister Uday Pratap Singh, who has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
However, neither the minister nor any officials from the School Education Department have made a statement regarding the matter.