KERALA: A major tragedy was narrowly averted on Wednesday after the ceiling of an auditorium at Kodaly Government Upper Primary School in Thrissur collapsed -- fortunately, on a day when the school was closed due to heavy rains.
No students or staff were present at the school due to the holiday.
The incident occurred around dawn, when the gypsum board ceiling installed beneath a metal sheet roof crashed inside the auditorium where students typically assemble.
The ceiling was constructed just two years ago, in 2023, at a cost of approximately Rs 54 lakh.
According to local residents, structural issues with the school building had been flagged as early as a decade ago during its original construction.
They also revealed that two months ago, during heavy rains, the ceiling had shown signs of bulging and damage.
Despite repeated complaints, school authorities allegedly took no steps to repair or replace the ceiling, sparking strong criticism from the community.