Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh: In a tragic incident on Friday, at least 40 children were injured when a portion of the first-floor balcony at Awadh Academy School collapsed, according to police reports. The private institution, located in Barabanki, witnessed chaos as a large number of students gathered on the balcony while heading to attend the morning assembly.
The injured children were immediately rushed to the Jahangirabad Primary Health Centre, located just 300 meters from the school. After receiving first aid, they were referred to the district hospital for further treatment. According to Barabanki Superintendent of Police (SP) Dinesh Kumar Singh, the condition of five students remains critical. “Many of the students were pulled out from under the debris of the collapsed balcony,” Singh added, noting that injuries primarily affected the face, neck, hands, and legs of the children.
Recurring Structural Failures in Indian Schools
UP School Balcony Collapse is part of a disturbing trend of structural failures in educational institutions across India. In July, a similar tragedy occurred in Vadodara, Gujarat, where a wall collapsed in a school classroom, injuring a student. The classroom, situated on the first floor of Shree Narayan Gurukul School, crumbled during lunch break.
The same month, another incident was reported in Andhra Pradesh, where the roof of a private school in Akkayapalli, Kadapa, collapsed, injuring six students. This incident sparked protests from student organizations, demanding accountability from the school management.
Call for Enhanced Safety Measures
The series of incidents highlights the urgent need for stringent safety regulations in schools. As investigations into the Barabanki collapse continue, the focus is expected to shift towards ensuring the structural integrity of educational buildings to prevent such disasters in the future.
Inputs by Agencies
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