Kerala Education department seeks report on roof collapse at Karthikappally school in Alappuzha

The General Education department has sought a report from the Alappuzha district administration regarding the collapse of the roof of a building at Government Upper Primary school, Karthikappally in Alappuzha, Kerala, on Sunday (July 20, 2025) morning.

District Collector Alex Varghese said the deputy director of education, Karthikappally tahsildar and executive engineer of the Local Self-Government department had been asked to visit the school and submit a report. “Based on their findings, a detailed report will be submitted to the government,” Mr. Varghese said.

A new building for the school has been constructed, but is yet to receive an electricity connection. Mr. Varghese said classes were shifted to the new building from Monday (July 21, 2025).

Protest turns violent

The Youth Congress, Kerala Students Union (KSU) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged separate protests in front of the school on Monday, alleging official apathy.

The Youth Congress-KSU protest turned violent when activists attempted to forcefully enter the school compound but were blocked by CPI(M) workers. A KSU worker and a mediaperson sustained injuries. Later, the police arrested and removed the protesters. Parents of the students of the school also staged a protest.

Earlier, mediapersons who arrived at the school on Monday morning were blocked by local CPI(M) leaders. They attempted to remove the mediapersons from the premises, citing that “classes were in progress and students needed to study.”

The roof of the building partially collapsed on Sunday morning. No injuries were reported in the incident. The collapsed building is more than 100 years old. It occurred amid heavy rain and winds.

According to school authorities, no classes were conducted in the building. However, parents and local residents said classes were indeed being held there. The building lacked a valid fitness certificate.

The incident occurred just a few days after a 13-year-old student, Midhun, was electrocuted at a school at Thevalakkara in Kollam. Midhun was electrocuted while trying to retrieve a slipper that had fallen onto the roof of a bicycle shed on the school compound on July 17. He came into contact with a low-lying live electric line.