Jhalawar school collapse shatters parents' worlds; Grieving mother cries, “Wish God had taken me instead”

A heartbreaking silence has fallen over a small house in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district, a house where two siblings once played, laughed, and dreamed. Now, only grief remains.

The brother and sister were among seven children who died when a government school building in Piplod village collapsed on Friday morning. The collapse has not only shattered several families, but also cast a harsh spotlight on the crumbling state of school infrastructure in rural Rajasthan.

As per a PTI report, the mother of the siblings, speaking through tears, said, “I had only two children, a boy and a girl. Now both are gone. My house is empty. There’s no one left to play in the courtyard. I wish God had taken me instead.”

Her anguish is just one of many heartbreaking stories that have emerged from the tragedy.

On Saturday morning, the air outside the mortuary at SRG Hospital was filled with cries of grieving parents. Some held the bodies of their children, wrapped in white sheets, refusing to let go. Others sat silently, still unable to grasp the suddenness of their loss.

In a powerful gesture of shared grief, five of the children were cremated together on a single pyre. The remaining two were laid to rest separately.

A mother who lost her child questioned the school's staff: “Why were the teachers outside? Why did they leave the children alone?” Her words reflected the anger and confusion that many parents now feel.

The children who lost their lives have been identified as Payal (12), Priyanka (12), Kundan (12), Harish (8), Kartik, and siblings Meena (12) and Kanha (6). Most were students of Classes 6 and 7. The youngest was just six years old.

The state government has taken some immediate steps. Five school staff members have been suspended, and a high-level probe has been ordered. Rajasthan’s School Education Minister also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of each child who died.

District Collector Ajay Singh visited the families and assured them of full support. Speaking to reporters, he said, “If needed, an FIR will be filed. The suspension of staff could lead to full dismissal. We are not taking this lightly.”

Singh added that the administration would ensure a new school building is constructed and that financial assistance would reach families within 10 days.

However, serious concerns remain. Singh admitted that no prior warning or complaint was received about the unsafe condition of the school building. “Had we known, we would have repaired it. This tragedy could have been avoided,” he said.

Reacting to a viral video showing rushed patchwork on the road outside SRG Hospital ahead of the minister’s visit, Singh said he was not aware of it but would look into it.

The collapse happened just as the children had gathered for morning prayers. Over 35 students were buried under the debris. Locals and school staff scrambled to rescue them. In total, 28 children were injured.

The scene was one of chaos and heartbreak. Concrete slabs, stones and dust covered the ground as anxious parents, teachers and villagers dug through the rubble.

The sorrow quickly turned into anger. Protests broke out at Guradi Circle and outside SRG Hospital. Locals blocked roads and demanded answers. Congress leader Naresh Meena joined the protest briefly before being detained by police.

Tensions escalated when protestors clashed with police. Stones were thrown, and a policeman was injured. Authorities used mild force to disperse the crowd.

Inputs from PTI