Bhubaneswar, July 8 (UDN): Three children were injured after a portion of the concrete ceiling of an Anganwadi Centre collapsed during class hours at Kurlli village under Turekela block in Odisha’s Bolangir district, raising serious concerns over the safety of government-run childcare centres.
The incident occurred on Tuesday morning while lessons were underway. According to local sources, a large chunk of concrete suddenly detached from the roof and fell inside the classroom, striking several children and triggering panic among students and teachers.
Five children were reportedly hit by the falling debris, of whom a boy and two girls sustained injuries. They were immediately rescued and shifted to Kantabanji Sub-Divisional Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. Doctors said the children suffered injuries to the head, neck and hands, and their condition is stable.
Preliminary information suggests that continuous rainfall over the past few days may have weakened the ceiling, leading to the collapse. However, local residents and parents have questioned the quality of construction, alleging that the building was poorly executed and lacked proper structural safeguards.
Family members of the injured children expressed anguish over the incident and demanded accountability. “My son was attending class when the ceiling collapsed. He sustained injuries to his head and hand and had to be admitted to the hospital,” said the father of one of the injured children.
Residents also alleged that the repair and plastering work carried out on the building was substandard. They claimed the ceiling had been plastered without proper surface preparation, making it vulnerable to detachment during heavy rains.
The incident has sparked widespread concern over the condition of Anganwadi buildings in the district, with locals urging the administration to conduct a comprehensive structural audit of childcare centres and other public buildings used by children.
Officials from the district administration and the Women and Child Development Department visited the site to assess the damage. An inquiry has been initiated to ascertain the exact cause of the ceiling collapse and examine whether construction norms and quality standards were adhered to.
Parents and villagers have demanded strict action against those responsible if negligence or poor-quality construction is established. They have also called for immediate repairs and safety inspections of Anganwadi centres across the district to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The administration has assured that appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry and that all necessary measures will be implemented to ensure the safety of children attending government-run childcare centres.