Tragedy struck a government middle school in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district on Friday morning when the roof of a classroom suddenly collapsed, killing seven students and injuring at least 21 others. The incident occurred in Piplod village just as students had gathered in their classrooms, moments before the daily school assembly was set to begin.

According to senior police official Amit Kumar, a total of around 35 students were inside the building when the roof gave way. All of the deceased were in seventh and eighth grade. Emergency services quickly arrived on the scene, and the injured children were rushed to two nearby hospitals for treatment.

The cause of the collapse remains under investigation. Local authorities have yet to confirm whether structural issues, poor maintenance, or recent weather conditions may have played a role in the disaster.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences in a social media post, describing the incident as “tragic” and “deeply saddening.” He assured that authorities are providing “all possible assistance” to the affected families during this difficult time.

The tragedy has raised serious concerns about the safety of public school infrastructure in rural parts of India, where aging buildings and inadequate upkeep often pose risks to students and staff.