Karnataka Lokayukta Orders Safety Audit of Government Schools After Roof Collapse
The Karnataka Lokayukta has ordered a comprehensive safety audit of government schools in Bagalkote district following the collapse of a school ceiling that injured six students.
The incident occurred on September 2 at Mugalolli Tanda Government Primary School, where the ceiling reportedly collapsed during class hours. The injured students were taken for medical treatment, with one student kept under observation. Lokayukta Takes Suo Motu Action (opens in a new tab)
Following the incident, the Karnataka Lokayukta initiated suo motu proceedings and directed authorities to conduct a detailed assessment of government school infrastructure in the district.
The order emphasises that classes should not be conducted in school buildings considered unsafe. Qualified engineers have been directed to examine the structural condition of school buildings.
Focus on School Infrastructure
The safety audit is expected to examine more than just the structural condition of buildings.
Authorities have also been asked to assess facilities including toilets, drinking water, hygiene and playgrounds. Officials will reportedly need to provide records relating to earlier inspections, parental complaints, repair funding and pending infrastructure work.
The move could bring renewed attention to the condition of government schools across Karnataka, particularly in rural areas.
Questions Over Maintenance and Accountability
The incident has raised questions about whether regular inspections and maintenance work are being carried out effectively.
For parents, teachers and students, the safety of school buildings is a basic requirement. Any delay in repairing damaged structures can potentially put children at unnecessary risk.
The Lokayukta's intervention could therefore lead to closer scrutiny of how school infrastructure funds are allocated and how repair requirements are followed up by authorities.
