Thiruvananthapuram: A major tragedy was averted in Kerala's capital on Monday evening after a portion of Attakulangara Central High School in Thiruvananthapuram collapsed shortly after students had left for the day.
No injuries or casualties were reported.
A section of Attakulangara Central High School in Thiruvananthapuram unexpectedly collapsed on Monday evening. The incident occurred after 5 pm, when students and staff had largely left the premises, preventing what could have been a serious accident.
According to initial reports, the collapsed section housed the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) office and was not being used as a classroom at the time of the incident.
No casualties reported
Authorities confirmed that no students, teachers or staff members were injured in the collapse. The timing of the incident proved crucial, as classes had already concluded and students had returned home.
The absence of people inside the affected portion ensured that the collapse did not result in any casualties.
Kerala Education Minister N. Shamsudheen said a detailed investigation would be conducted into the incident.
The minister stated that officials would examine how the school had obtained its fitness certificate and whether proper safety assessments had been carried out. He also indicated that the condition of the ageing structure would come under scrutiny during the investigation.
Concerns over ageing infrastructure
Attakulangara Central High School is one of the city's older educational institutions and has a large student population. Reports regarding the age and condition of parts of the school building had surfaced previously, raising concerns about infrastructure safety.
The collapse has renewed discussions about the structural condition of ageing school buildings and the need for regular inspections to ensure student safety.
Officials are expected to carry out a comprehensive structural inspection of the school campus to determine the cause of the collapse and assess whether other portions of the building pose any risk.
The findings of the investigation will help determine whether additional repairs, reconstruction or safety measures are required.
While the collapse of a section of Attakulangara Central High School has raised serious concerns about ageing school infrastructure, the fact that it occurred after school hours prevented a potentially devastating tragedy. With no casualties reported, attention is now focused on the government's investigation into the building's safety certification and the condition of educational institutions across Kerala.