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The mother of 12-year-old Meena and six-year-old Kanha weeps inconsolably, wishing God had taken her instead to spare her children. “I’ve lost everything… I only had two children and both are gone. My home is empty… There’s no one left to play in the courtyard. I wish God had taken me instead,” she said.
Among numerous stories of sorrow, hers stands out as particularly heart-wrenching. The seven children were cremated on Saturday morning, with five together on a single funeral pyre and two separately.
Wails of grieving mothers pierced the air outside the SRG Hospital mortuary earlier as the bodies were handed over to families. Some clung tightly to their children’s wrapped bodies, while others sat in stunned silence, struggling to accept this sudden loss.
Another mother raised questions about the role of teachers who left the children unattended during the incident. “The teachers went outside, leaving the children behind. What were they doing?” she said.
This tragedy has raised serious concerns about rural school infrastructure and systemic neglect in Rajasthan. Apart from Meena and Kanha, victims included Payal, Priyanka, Kundan (all aged 12), Harish (aged eight), and Kartik.
Five school staff members were suspended, and a high-level inquiry was ordered. The School Education Minister announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families who lost their children. Jhalawar District Collector Ajay Singh met the grieving families on Saturday to console them.
He stated that appropriate action would be taken against those responsible: “Five school staffers have been suspended, and a probe committee has been constituted. If needed, an FIR will be registered. If suspension turns to expulsion, it will be done.” He added that maximum financial assistance would be given to each family in the next 10 days.
On the repair work of the school building, Singh said, “There are clear-cut directions for it. The district administration is making efforts to ensure the incident does not occur again. District education officials have been directed to not allow students into schools if the building condition is poor.” He noted that no complaints were received from staff regarding the building’s condition.
On Friday morning, 35 children at Piplod Government School had barely assembled for morning prayer when a portion of the building collapsed, burying them under debris. 28 were injured as people, including frantic parents and teachers, helped in rescue efforts.
Anger and sorrow spilled onto the streets after the incident. Locals blocked roads at Guradi Circle and outside SRG Hospital, demanding accountability. Protesters turned aggressive when police tried to clear the roadblock, injuring a policeman. The police used mild force to disperse the agitators.
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
In the passage, what is the main reason for the mother's inconsolable weeping and wish that God had taken her instead?
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