In a deeply concerning incident, a portion of the roof at a government primary school near Thuraiyur in Trichy district collapsed on 22 September 2025, reigniting concerns over the crumbling state of school infrastructure in Tamil Nadu.
The incident occurred at Singalanthapuram Panchayat Union Primary School, which caters to students from classes 1 to 5. The school, with 34 enrolled students, operates from a building that was constructed at a cost of ₹30.05 lakh.
According to officials, the collapse happened early in the morning when the headmaster arrived to open the building. Chunks of concrete fell onto classroom benches and an LED TV. Fortunately, no students were present, as the school was closed for the weekend. Authorities admitted that had the incident occurred during class hours, it could have resulted in serious injuries or even fatalities.
Reacting strongly to the incident, former Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai launched a scathing attack on the DMK government, holding it responsible for the deteriorating condition of public infrastructure due to widespread corruption and lack of accountability.
Taking to X, Annamalai stated, “The roof of a government elementary school building, constructed at a cost of ₹30.05 lakh in Singalandapuram village panchayat, Thuraiyur union, Tiruchirappalli district, has collapsed, damaging benches and other items used by students. Fortunately, no students were harmed as the incident occurred before the school opened. Even government school buildings where our young children study have not escaped the corruption of this wretched DMK government. Since the DMK came to power, there have been countless incidents of school building roofs collapsing. To allow DMK functionaries to earn money, the safety of our children is being put at risk. This situation is stark right in the school education minister’s own district. Who is the contractor built this school building? On what basis was the contract awarded to him? What action has the DMK government taken so far against the contractors who have built these collapsing school buildings? When the student enrollment rate in Tamil Nadu’s government schools is already declining, what is the reason behind the continuous collapse of government school buildings? Is the Tamil Nadu School Education Department working to recruit students for private schools run by DMK members? To ensure the safety of poor and underprivileged students studying in government schools, the School Education Minister must provide an explanation for all of this.”
திருச்சி மாவட்டம், துறையூர் ஊராட்சி ஒன்றியம், சிங்களாந்தபுரம் ஊராட்சியில், ₹30.05 லட்சம் செலவில் கட்டப்பட்ட அரசு ஊராட்சி ஒன்றிய துவக்கப் பள்ளிக் கட்டிடத்தின் மேற்கூரை இடிந்து விழுந்து, மாணவர்கள் அமரும் பெஞ்ச் உள்ளிட்டவை சேதமடைந்துள்ளன. அதிர்ஷ்டவசமாக, பள்ளி திறப்பதற்கு முன்பாக… pic.twitter.com/hHlcfZRs8g
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) September 22, 2025
Past Incidents
This is not an isolated incident; similar cases of government school ceilings collapsing on students have been recurring over the past few years under the DMK government.
1. On 7 April 2025, four students were injured when a portion of the roof collapsed at a government middle school in Sekalangiri village, near Thiruthuraipoondi in Tiruvarur district. The accident occurred shortly after the lunch break while regular classes were underway. Among the injured students, one sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Tiruvarur Government Medical College Hospital and other three students suffered minor injuries.
2. Seven students were injured on 7 March 2025 when the roof of a recently repaired fourth-grade classroom collapsed at Dindigul Corporation Middle School. The school, built in 2009 during the DMK government, has faced structural issues, prompting ₹1 crore worth of repairs, including the affected classroom. The incident sparked panic among parents and led to the suspension of Assistant Executive Engineer Thiagarajan. Former AIADMK Minister C. Sreenivasan blamed substandard construction, while DMK Minister I. Periyasamy defended government efforts, attributing the collapse to an older faulty repair.
3. On 3 March 2024, three students from a government school near Vaniyambadi were seriously injured when the roof of a newly inaugurated classroom gave way. The collapse occurred at a panchayat union primary school in Shankarapuram, Tirupattur district.
4. On 27 August 2024, three students were injured when a section of the ceiling plaster fell on them during class at a government-run school in Krishnagiri. The accident raised significant concerns about the safety and structural integrity of the building, which had only been opened two months ago with MPLADS fund.
5. In another similar incident July 2024, a ceiling of a newly constructed Panchayat Union Middle School near Kanchipuram collapsed, where the building, completed three months prior.
6. In August 2024, another ceiling of a classroom at a government school in Thiruporur collapsed, injuring five female students and sparking protests from parents who questioned the quality of the construction.
7. Three students were seriously injured when the roof of a newly inaugurated classroom collapsed at a panchayat union primary school in Shankarapuram, Vaniyambadi, Tirupattur district, on 4 March 2025. The building, constructed in 2023–2024 at a cost of ₹21 lakh with funds from AIADMK MLA Senthilkumar, had been inaugurated in August 2024. The injured students Praneeth (Class 1), Sudarsan (Class 3), and Vishek were rescued and taken to a private hospital.
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