Five children were injured on Tuesday morning after a portion of classroom ceiling plaster suddenly collapsed at a government primary school in Narda village, under Vaniyatailai Gram Panchayat in the Bhinder Police Station area of Udaipur district, Rajasthan. As many as 32 children were present in the room when the plaster gave way at approximately 11 am.

What Happened

Three students sustained head injuries and two others suffered minor injuries in the incident. Headmaster Lalsingh Shaktawat identified the students with head injuries as Krishna Kumari and Kartik, both Class 1 students, and Ganesh Lal, a Class 5 student. All three were taken to Bhinder Government Hospital for treatment and were subsequently discharged and sent home.

The collapse triggered panic among students and staff, with the falling plaster producing a loud noise. Children from three different classes were reportedly sharing the same room at the time of the incident.

A Building in Neglect

The school building was constructed in 2001 and, according to the headmaster and local villagers, has deteriorated significantly over the years. The structure comprises two rooms and a veranda, all reportedly in a dilapidated state. Headmaster Shaktawat confirmed that the school had previously flagged the building's poor condition to the Education Department, but no remedial action was taken.

Villagers alleged that repeated written complaints about the deteriorating building had been submitted to both the Education Department and the local administration, yet the concerns went unaddressed. The school caters to students up to Class 5 and has a total enrolment of 37 students.

Official Response and Precautionary Measures

Following instructions from the Education Department and the local administration, the school building has been locked as a precautionary measure. Classes will now be held near Mataji ka Chabutra, a local shrine in the area. Bhinder CBEO Rajendra Kumar Chaubisa visited the school after the incident and reviewed the situation on the ground.

Wider Concern Over School Safety

Villagers noted that the incident could have led to a far graver tragedy had the roof itself — rather than just the plaster — caved in. The accident has reignited concerns over the safety of students in government schools housed in ageing, poorly maintained structures across Rajasthan and other states. This comes amid a broader pattern of infrastructure neglect in rural primary schools that has been flagged by education advocacy groups over recent years. With the building now sealed, questions remain about the timeline for repairs and the long-term provision of safe learning infrastructure for the 37 enrolled students.