Guj: 13 students killed, 14 hurt in school roof collapse

Surat, Jan 27: At least seven students were killed and 21 others critically wounded when the roof of a residential girls school, at Dhichakpura, 90 km from here, collapsed this evening.

District Collector Vatsala Vasudeva said around 50 students were still trapped inside the debris.

Police sources said the roof slab of the Adarsh Nivasi Shala School in the tribal taluka of Vyara collapsed at 1730 hrs. The bodies of the deceased have been recovered while the injured admitted to the Referral Hospital and Janak Hospital in Vyara.

A rescue operation was on in full swing and besides the fire brigade, locals were also assisting in clearing the debris.

Additional fire tenders and personnel have reached the spot from this city.

Ms Vasudeva said a portion of the building near the staircase caved in resulting in the collapse of the roof. She said an inquiry would be conducted to ascertain causes for the tragedy.

''Right now we are concentrating on the rescue operations and parents are arriving here to take their children back home,'' she added.

Meanwhile, sources said the building developed cracks after being jolted by the devastating quake in the city in 2001 but was repaired.

UNI