Probe ordered into school roof collapse

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 20: The district administration will take action against the school authorities for violation of construction rules after a roof of its newly constructed building collapsed and injured at least 30 primary school students on Independence Day. The district magistrate Mr CR Das said the block development officer of Kaliachak II completed inquiry report regarding the building collapse. “I must take steps against the school authorities after going through the inquiry report of the BDO tomorrow,” said Mr CR Das. It may be recalled that at about 6.30 a.m. hundreds of students of the Nayabazaar High school and a primary student assembled in the campus with flowers, photographs of martyrs from home, chocolates and sweets as advised by the teachers to mark Independence Day by hoisting the national flag which was scheduled to be held at 7.10 a.m. It suddenly started drizzling and forced some of the students to take shelter in a part of school building. It was then that the roof collapsed. No teacher was present at the time of incident. Local people rushed to the spot and rescued them from where they were buried under roof tiles, concrete slabs and bamboo sticks. Some were admitted to local health centre at Bangitola and 15 to Malda district hospital. From inquiry report it was revealed that the school authorities had constructed a shed for the students a few days ago where they could eat mid day meals. It was constructed from the school's own funds collected from local Bazaar committee. Yesterday, the district magistrate also instructed the district inspector of schools (secondary) to conduct a separate inspection to take necessary steps against the school authorities.