24 kids injured in school roof collapse

Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, Jan 22 (UNI) At least 24 children and a woman teacher were injured, when a tiled roof of a private school collapsed at Thirukokarnam near here this afternoon.

Police said after the lunch-break when the classes were going on, the tiled roof of the 40-year-old Sri Venkateshwara Matriculation School building collapsed and fell on the kids of LKG and UKG standard at 1430 hrs.

Passers-by, who heard the screams of students who were trapped under the debris, rushed there and along with locals rescued the children. The school building had classes from LKG to Fifth standard.

Nearly 110 students were present in the big classroom, when the mishap occurred.

Of the 24 injured, 17 students were admitted to the Government Hospital, while the remaining were treated as outpatients. Most of the students suffered head injuries.

On hearing the news, parents of the students rushed to the school, triggering tension.

The school might have been ransacked by irate parents, according to eyewitnesses. But it was saved by the presence of large police force.

Top revenue and police officials rushed to the spot, held inquiries and made speedy arrangements for treatment of the injured students.

UNI