Yogesh
Jammu, Jul 21: A five-year-old student was killed and five others were injured after a landslide hit a government school here in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said.
As per officials, the landslide was triggered at the building of Government Primary School (GPS) Kalssa, situated in Ward No. 4, Village Bhainch, Tehsil Haveli, District Poonch by overnight heavy rains, during which a large boulder fell in a classroom of the primary school in the Bhainch-Kalsian area, killing a 5-year-old Ehsan Ali and injuring students and a teacher.
The injured students have been identified as Mohammad Safeer, age 7, son of Mohammad Shareef, resident of Kalsan Bhainch, Bilal Farooq, age 8, son of Farooq Ahmed, resident of Bhainch, Aftab Ahmed, age 6, son of Idress Ahmed, resident of Bhainch, Tobia Kouser, age 7, daughter of Basharat Hussain, resident of Bhainch.
They are undergoing treatment at Raja Sukhdev Singh District Hospital in Poonch along with the teacher, who had suffered minor injuries.
Following the incident, Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the loss of life.
“The news of the death of a 5-year-old child due to the rockslide that crashed into Primary School, Kalsian, Poonch, is heart-rending. May God give strength to the bereaved parents to bear this shock. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured children,” LG Sinha wrote on X.
CM Abdullah also extended his condolences to the bereaved family on a social media post. He also directed the administration to ensure proper treatment of the injured and to conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Vikas Kundal visited the district hospital and met the injured and their families. He also disbursed financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to the family of Ehsan and Rs 50,000 each to the families of the injured children under the Red Cross Fund. He also assured all possible assistance to the families from the district administration.
In response to the landslide and ongoing heavy rainfall, which recorded 184.2 mm in the region over the past 24 hours, authorities have ordered the closure of all schools in Poonch district on July 22, 2025, as a precautionary measure.
The district administration, in coordination with the Education Department, has also initiated a structural safety audit of school buildings in vulnerable areas to mitigate risks during the monsoon season.
