Daijiworld Media Network – Sanguem

Sanguem, Oct 11: Panic gripped Government Higher Secondary School, Sanguem, on Friday morning after a portion of the assembly hall’s false ceiling collapsed, injuring five students. The incident occurred while the students were preparing for a programme inside the hall.

According to sources, a monkey that had leapt from a nearby tree onto the school roof reportedly caused the ceiling to give way. The animal entered through a gap in the roof and came crashing down along with the false ceiling panels.

Principal Sudesh Naik and teachers immediately administered first aid before shifting the injured students to the Sanguem Primary Health Centre. While three students were treated and discharged, two were later moved to South Goa District Hospital in Margao. One of them was kept under observation, while the other was discharged after treatment.

Officials said a section of the aluminium false ceiling had partially collapsed earlier, and the remaining portion fell on Friday. The lack of an iron mesh under the roof has allowed monkeys to enter the building, posing repeated risks to safety.

Soon after the incident, Sanguem Municipal Chairperson Santiksha Gadkar, Vice-Chairperson Sangameshwar Naik, and Councillor Meshu D’Costa visited the school to assess the situation. Naik expressed concern that despite the PWD preparing an estimate for ceiling repairs nearly a year ago, no work had been initiated.

D’Costa urged Chief Minister and Education Minister Pramod Sawant to intervene immediately to prevent further mishaps. “The ceiling is badly damaged and poses a grave risk. I appeal to the CM to ensure urgent repair work,” he said.

Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Desai, speaking from the Purple Fest venue in Panaji, confirmed that a monkey had triggered the collapse. He said his office had earlier alerted authorities about the ceiling’s weak condition. Health Minister Vishwajit Rane later visited the injured student at Margao hospital and assured full medical support.

The incident has raised serious concerns among parents and educationists over the delay in repair works and the quality of infrastructure maintenance in government schools.