What Caused the Roof Collapse at the Abandoned Government School in Ranchi?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- One person died and two were critically injured in the roof collapse.
- The building had been abandoned for several years.
- Residents had warned authorities about the dangers of the structure.
- The incident highlights the need for better management of abandoned properties.
- Public safety must be a priority for local administration.
Ranchi, July 18 (NationPress) In a heartbreaking incident, the roof of a long-neglected government school collapsed on Friday morning, resulting in the death of an elderly man and leaving two others in critical condition, according to officials.
The accident took place around 8 a.m. The structure, once a government-run educational facility, had been closed for several years due to its hazardous condition.
Even after being deemed unsafe, the dilapidated building continued to serve as a makeshift shelter for some individuals, primarily the homeless and impoverished migrant workers.
On Friday morning, a significant section of the roof suddenly fell with a thunderous noise, trapping three individuals inside.
Upon hearing the commotion, local residents rushed to the site and alerted the police. A team from the Sukhdevnagar Police Station quickly arrived, and, with the assistance of locals, commenced rescue efforts.
The victims were extricated from the rubble. The elderly man, recognized by locals but not yet officially identified by authorities, unfortunately succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The other two were transported to a nearby medical facility and are reported to be in critical condition.
The police have taken possession of the deceased's body for a post-mortem examination.
Residents expressed profound sorrow, stating they had repeatedly urged the local authorities to demolish the abandoned building, fearing it posed a substantial risk to public safety.
"We had warned the authorities multiple times, but our pleas went unheard. This tragedy could have been prevented," a local remarked.
In an unrelated incident, six schoolchildren and a laborer were severely injured when the roof of Royal Valley School in Lariyadih village, under Koderma police station jurisdiction, collapsed during heavy rains on Thursday. All injured parties are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.