Sukkur [Pakistan], August 31 : Twelve eighth-grade students were injured at a government high school in Basiro village, Khairpur district, when a large section of concrete plaster fell from the classroom ceiling, Dawn News reported.
The incident happened during a class session, and the large plaster pieces scattered across the classroom, causing severe head injuries to several students. A distressing video that has circulated online shows the chaotic scene, with students having bloodied heads and faces being rushed for medical help.
A teacher from the school reported that there were 80 students in the classroom at the time of the incident56 boys and 24 girls. The plaster fell in the boys' section, and fortunately, no female students were injured.
The immediate aftermath saw a frantic rescue operation as teaching and non-teaching staff, along with local villagers, rushed to assist the injured students, reported Dawn News.
Many of the students were taken to nearby health facilities in Pacca Chang and Basiro villages for treatment.
The students who were hurt have been identified as Jawad Shaikh, Islamuddin, Shafiq Ahmad, Khalid, Faraz Ahmad, Ansar Balouch, Hassan Rajpar, Gulzar Tanwari, Zuhaib, Mubarak, Nawab Ali, and Nadeem.
The teacher also mentioned that several officials from the education department had conducted inspections of the classroom since the incident. This inspection is part of a broader investigation into the school's infrastructure, which has been a concern due to the ongoing reconstruction of the upper floors of the building.
The school had been forced to hold classes in the lower portion of the building, which was in a deteriorated condition, due to the extensive reconstruction work.
This lack of maintenance contributed to the classroom's vulnerability, highlighting systemic issues within the school's infrastructure management, Dawn reported.
The incident underscores the urgent need for improved safety measures and maintenance protocols in educational institutions to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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