18 children killed as school roof collapses in Uttarakhand

At least 18 children of a primary school in Uttrakhand’s Bageshwar district,all below the age of 10-years,died after the school building collapsed due to heavy landslide this morning. A cloudburst in nearby area triggered the landslide,it is learnt. The disaster occurred while the children were in their classes waiting for teachers. It was the beginning of the first period at around 8.30 am when a loud thunder,followed by the landslide,got all under the debris. Within no time the entire school turned into a graveyard. Eight injured children have been rescued out of the debris,even as the rescue operation is underway amid heavy rainfall. There were nearly 30 students in the school at the time the building collapsed. The school,Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Sumgarh village in Kapkot tehsil,is run by a private management and located on the hill slope. Classrooms,where children were seated,faced direct impact of the landslide.

The rescue operation was delayed and,possibly,mounted the toll. It took the authorities few hours to begin the rescue operation as the link road connecting the school had been washed away due to landslide. Much before the authorities could reach,nearby villagers and fear-stricken parents rushed to the spot looking for children. The process of digging out children from the debris was carried out manually since the no machinery could reach there. Senior officials and rescue workers reached the accident site after walking for over 6-miles and a rugged terrain. Had it not been for the heavy downpour since the morning,the toll could have been even higher. A bridge on the route also collapsed. Rescue workers used ropes to reach the other side.

Official sources said the attendance was thin today because of the rain. Two teachers,who were present when the building collapsed,are still missing. Despite heavy rains for the last several days in the area,the authorities concerned failed to take stock of the situation. It was only after the tragedy that the local authorities issued orders for closure of the schools in the area,said sources. Minister for Disaster Management Khajan Singh said,“The rescue work is underway. At least 18 students are feared dead. Eight children in an injured state have been rescued.” The CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has announced a relief of Rs 1 lakh for the deceased. Communication lines in the entire area have remained disrupted for the last few days owing to heavy rainfall. The ITPB has been pressed into action. Relief work with the help of choppers too has not been a possibility since the morning because of the rains. Met office Director Anand Sharma said heavy rains is predicted in the area for the next 2-days.