40 Students Injured as School's First Floor Collapses in Barabanki : 15 Admitted to Trauma Center
A private school building's first-floor balcony collapsed in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, injuring 40 students during the morning assembly. The incident occurred at Awadh Academy School, where students aged 8 to 15 were gathered. Out of the injured, 15 students were admitted to the district hospital's trauma center, while the remaining received treatment at a nearby community health center. Preliminary investigations suggest that the collapse was due to overloading and possibly poor construction quality. The school has been sealed, and a magisterial inquiry is underway to determine the cause and hold those responsible accountable.
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INDC Network : Barabanki (Uttar Pradesh) : In a tragic incident in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, the first-floor balcony of a private school building collapsed on Friday morning, leaving 40 students injured. The incident occurred around 8 AM during the morning assembly at the school, located in the Jahangirabad area of Barabanki district, which is adjacent to Lucknow. The students, aged between 8 and 15, had gathered for the assembly when the floor suddenly gave way, causing a portion of the balcony to collapse.
Barabanki District Magistrate Satyendra Kumar confirmed the incident and stated that 15 of the injured students were immediately admitted to the trauma center at the district hospital. Additionally, approximately 25 other students were receiving treatment at the Jahangirabad Community Health Center, situated just 300 meters from the accident site. The District Magistrate emphasized that all injured students were being provided with the best possible medical care. Following the collapse, rescue operations were swiftly conducted, and the trapped students were safely evacuated.
The school building has been sealed by authorities until further notice, and a magisterial inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the collapse. The District Magistrate assured that legal action would be taken against the school officials and others responsible for the incident.
Barabanki Superintendent of Police (SP) Dinesh Kumar Singh provided further details, stating that the incident took place at Awadh Academy School, a private institution, around 8 AM as students were preparing for the morning prayer assembly. Preliminary investigations suggest that the first-floor balcony collapsed due to overloading. It was reported that a large number of students were standing in line on the first floor, which likely contributed to the structural failure.
The SP also noted that the construction quality of the school building may have been substandard. The school management and other responsible officials were not present at the school after the incident, and efforts are being made to locate them for questioning. Strict action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation. The immediate priority, according to the SP, is to ensure that the injured students receive proper medical treatment.
The SP further mentioned that the parents of the injured students have been informed, and help desks have been set up at both the school and the hospital to assist in safely returning the students to their homes. Another concerning aspect revealed during the investigation was that while the school was only accredited up to the 10th grade, it was admitting students and conducting classes up to the 12th grade. The SP stated that the education department officials have been asked to submit a report on this matter.
In the wake of this unfortunate incident, the authorities have intensified their efforts to provide medical assistance to the injured students and ensure that those responsible for the tragedy are held accountable. The collapse has raised serious concerns about the safety standards and regulatory compliance of school buildings in the region.
