Daijiworld Media Network - Gondia

Gondia, Apr 12: A Class V student lost her life after a school’s iron gate suddenly collapsed in Maharashtra on Saturday afternoon, triggering shock and outrage in the locality.

The incident occurred around 1 pm at PM Shri Rani Avantibai Primary School in the Lodhitola area under Tirora Municipal Council. The deceased has been identified as Nirali Manish Chafle (11). Her mother, Shubhangi Chaudhary-Chafle, is the headmistress of the same school.

According to reports, the main gate of the school had been in a dilapidated condition for the past few years, and a proposal for its repair had already been submitted. Students had also been instructed to stay away from the gate.

However, soon after school hours ended on Saturday, when students were exiting the premises, the iron gate suddenly collapsed. Nirali was trapped beneath the structure and sustained critical injuries.

She was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Tirora. Due to her deteriorating condition, she was being shifted to Gondia for advanced treatment, but she succumbed to her injuries on the way.

Nirali was known to be a bright student and had recently secured fourth rank at the state-level scholarship (Pragyashodh) examination. She was also felicitated in Pune a few days ago for her achievement.

The tragic incident has cast a pall of gloom over the area, with residents expressing anger over alleged negligence. The accident has also raised serious concerns about safety measures in schools. Locals have demanded a thorough probe into the incident and strict action against those responsible.