Six-year-old killed, two injured in school gate collapse in Jaisalmer

A six-year-old boy was killed and a teacher and a girl student were injured when a concrete slab holding up the main gate of a government school collapsed in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district on Monday (July 28, 2025). The victim, Arbaz Khan, who died on the spot, had arrived at the school to pick up his sister, a student of the school.

The mishap occurred just three days after a portion of a government upper primary school in Jhalawar district caved in, leaving seven children dead. Monday’s incident took place at the Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School at Poonam Nagar in Jaisalmer’s Ramgarh area, where the school’s gate was reported to be in a dilapidated condition.

Panic gripped the school as the teachers and villagers rushed to rescue those buried under the rubble. Arbaz succumbed to his injuries on the spot, while a teacher, Ashok Kumar Soni, who was pulled out of the rubble, suffered a leg fracture.

Another girl student received injuries in her head and face. Mr. Soni was taken to the district hospital, where his condition is stable.

The concrete structure of the main gate had weakened after a vehicle hit it sometime ago. It collapsed under the impact of strong winds when the students were leaving for their homes.

Arbaz’s family members and relatives staged a dharna outside the school with his body, expressing their anger and demanding justice. The officials reached the school to hold talks with the protesters, after which the body was shifted to the mortuary of a local hospital for post-mortem.

Jaisalmer Collector Pratap Singh Nathawat said the Gram Vikas Adhikari, who had been informed of the poor condition of the school’s gate earlier, was suspended with immediate effect for “dereliction of duty”. “We will provide all possible help to the family of the deceased boy as per the government’s norms,” Mr. Nathawat said.

Education Minister Madan Dilawar said instructions were being issued to all District Education Officers to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. “It is the rainy season now and heavy rainfall is occurring at several places… Everyone needs to be extra cautious,” Mr. Dilawar said.

Reacting to the incident, veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the recurrence of a child’s death in a school should be a matter of concern for the State government. He urged Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to take swift action and ensure that no other child’s life was lost in such incidents.

The State government has already declared holidays for schools in 11 districts till Tuesday, amid a forecast of heavy rain. A State-wide survey is also being conducted by District Collectors to identify dilapidated school buildings, after which unsafe structures will be closed and demolished.