A major accident was narrowly averted on Wednesday morning (August 6, 2025) when the ceiling of the assembly hall at Government Lower Primary School, Kodaly, in Thrissur, Kerala, collapsed. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as schools in the district remained closed due to a rain-related holiday declared by local authorities.
The ceiling, which spanned the school’s main assembly area, came crashing down, damaging ceiling fans and chairs underneath. The incident has sparked outrage among parents and local residents, who pointed out that the hall was inaugurated barely two years ago, in 2023, with Rs 54 lakh allocated from the local MLA’s development fund.
ALSO READ: Kanpur Tops UP In Export Growth At 15.68% In FY 2024-25; Leather Products Lead Surge
Allegations Of Poor Construction
Residents and parents alleged that the building had been constructed in an unscientific manner, with structural flaws flagged even before the collapse. A recent Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting had, in fact, decided to undertake urgent repairs due to visible cracks and concerns over safety.
Following the incident, Costford, the construction agency responsible for the project, claimed that persistent rainfall in recent days had exerted structural stress on the building, leading to the collapse. However, this explanation has failed to reassure parents and locals, many of whom are demanding a comprehensive probe into the quality of construction and possible negligence.
Part Of A Larger Safety Crisis In Kerala’s Public Buildings
This incident comes just a day after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed the State Disaster Management Department to conduct a statewide survey of structurally unsafe buildings within a fortnight. The directive specifically targets schools, hospitals, and public institutions, amid rising concerns over infrastructure safety.
The Chief Minister’s move follows a series of alarming incidents. Last month, a 13-year-old boy, Mithun, a Class VIII student at Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam, died tragically after being electrocuted. He was attempting to retrieve a slipper from the roof of a cycle shed adjacent to his classroom when he slipped and came into contact with a low-lying three-phase power line. The cycle shed, built eight years ago, had live wires dangerously passing overhead.
Adding to the concerns, a woman recently lost her life at Kottayam Medical College Hospital after a toilet block, reportedly marked as closed, collapsed while she was inside. These incidents have raised serious questions about the maintenance and structural integrity of public infrastructure across Kerala.
ALSO READ: Bihar SIR: SC Asks EC To Provide Details Of 65 Lakh Voters Removed From Bihar Electoral List By Saturday
With mounting public anger and a series of safety lapses coming to light, demands are growing louder for accountability, stricter building audits, and immediate remedial action to prevent further tragedies.