What Happened in Jaisalmer? School Gate Collapse Claims Young Life, Teacher Hurt

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Tragic incident: A 9-year-old student lost his life due to a collapsing school gate.
- Infrastructure concerns: The event highlights serious issues with government school buildings.
- Community response: Local residents staged protests demanding accountability.
- Safety audits: Calls for immediate safety evaluations of schools are increasing.
- Need for reform: Urgent action is required to ensure student safety.
Jaisalmer, July 28 (NationPress) A tragic incident unfolded on Monday as 9-year-old Arbaaz Khan lost his life when the primary gate of the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Habur (Poonamnagar) village, located in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan, unexpectedly collapsed.
A teacher was also severely injured and was quickly transported to the district hospital for urgent care. The calamity struck around the time students were entering the school premises.
Eyewitnesses reported that the gate suddenly gave way, trapping young Arbaaz beneath the debris. Panic ensued as teachers and concerned local residents rushed to his aid, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries immediately. Fortunately, the teacher's condition is currently stable.
This heartbreaking event has once again highlighted the deteriorating infrastructure of government schools within the state. Local residents assert that the gate had been in a precarious state for an extended period, with multiple complaints submitted to the authorities, yet no action was taken.
In response to the incident, furious villagers and Arbaaz’s family organized a protest outside the school, placing the boy’s body at the gate. They demanded accountability and stringent measures against officials who ignored repeated alerts.
Family members and local residents believe this preventable tragedy is a direct consequence of persistent negligence. The incident raises serious concerns regarding the safety of students in government schools, especially in rural regions.
Following two significant accidents related to school infrastructure in Rajasthan within a short span, calls for immediate audits and repairs of dilapidated school facilities are intensifying.
Rajasthan's Leader of the Opposition, Tikaram Jully, has urged Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to conduct safety audits of schools across the state.
Jully expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic loss of an innocent student and the severe injury of a teacher, stating, 'This incident is profoundly saddening.' He emphasized that the occurrence underscores the alarming state of government school buildings throughout Rajasthan.
He further insisted that this accident raises critical questions regarding the safety of children and staff in educational institutions, urging the Chief Minister to address the issue promptly and initiate a comprehensive safety audit of all government school facilities.
Jully pointed out that any buildings found to be unsafe or in disrepair should undergo immediate restoration work without delay. 'The safety of our children must be prioritized above all,' he asserted.