At 11:54 am on Friday, a regular lesson in Class X at PM Shri Maharani Laxmibai Girls School in Barkheda, Bhopal, turned into a scene of panic. A chunk of plaster from the classroom ceiling suddenly fell, striking a girl seated in the front row. The classroom's CCTV captured the exact moment: the teacher stood near the girl, a book in hand, when the plaster gave way. Students screamed and scrambled to evacuate the room.
The girl suffered a head injury and required three stitches. She received first aid at the scene and was later discharged from hospital.
District Education Officer (DEO) N K Ahirwar confirmed the injury and said to PTI, "The girl required three stitches on her head. She has been discharged from hospital. I got to know about the incident this afternoon as the school's principal did not inform me yesterday."
The DEO also said, "There has been an incident of plaster falling off in PM Shri School. A team will inspect the school in a day or two."
Speaking to The Times of India, Meshram said, "There was no such major injury with any student. One girl had only minor injuries. I have informed my seniors about it."
Her comments, however, did not reflect the fact that the student received stitches.
When NDTV tried to reach DEO Ahirwar for further clarification, calls reportedly went unanswered.
It was not just a visual of an accident. It was a snapshot of a crumbling system.
But the reality on the ground, at least in this case, tells a different story.
Ahirwar told PTI, "I had directed that classes not be held in rooms that are weak or damaged amid rains."
Yet classes were held, warnings were ignored, and a student got hurt.
What happened in Barkheda isn’t isolated. It points to a much deeper structural crisis in Madhya Pradesh’s public education system.
According to official data accessed by NDTV, 1,022 schools across the state are currently operating in buildings that are either dilapidated or completely missing. The infrastructure crisis goes even further:
The girl from PM Shri School has gone home with her stitches. But the broader issue remains unresolved. How many warnings must be issued before action is taken? How many students must be at risk before classrooms are made safe?
Until those questions are answered with action, the damage isn't just physical. It's institutional. And it keeps piling up, one ignored crack at a time.
The girl suffered a head injury and required three stitches. She received first aid at the scene and was later discharged from hospital.
District Education Officer (DEO) N K Ahirwar confirmed the injury and said to PTI, "The girl required three stitches on her head. She has been discharged from hospital. I got to know about the incident this afternoon as the school's principal did not inform me yesterday."
The DEO also said, "There has been an incident of plaster falling off in PM Shri School. A team will inspect the school in a day or two."
Warning signs were already sent
This wasn't a sudden accident. It came after repeated internal warnings. The school principal, Smita Meshram, had previously flagged the condition of several classrooms due to water seepage from the ongoing rains. In a written letter to the DEO and the Block Education Officer of Phanda, she had specifically noted that multiple ceilings were weakened and could collapse. Despite this, repairs had only begun in select areas of the school. The classroom where the student was hurt remained untouched.Speaking to The Times of India, Meshram said, "There was no such major injury with any student. One girl had only minor injuries. I have informed my seniors about it."
Her comments, however, did not reflect the fact that the student received stitches.
When NDTV tried to reach DEO Ahirwar for further clarification, calls reportedly went unanswered.
Viral video brings scrutiny, public reaction
The CCTV clip of the plaster collapse circulated rapidly online, bringing national attention to what might otherwise have been dismissed as a local mishap. In the video, the teacher and other students can be seen reacting in shock, then cautiously leaving the classroom. A few rushed to assist the injured girl.It was not just a visual of an accident. It was a snapshot of a crumbling system.
PM Shri schools: Vision vs reality
PM Shri Maharani Laxmibai Girls School is one of seven PM SHRI schools in Bhopal, part of a Union government initiative launched in September 2022 to showcase the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020. These schools are meant to set an example.But the reality on the ground, at least in this case, tells a different story.
Ahirwar told PTI, "I had directed that classes not be held in rooms that are weak or damaged amid rains."
Yet classes were held, warnings were ignored, and a student got hurt.
What happened in Barkheda isn’t isolated. It points to a much deeper structural crisis in Madhya Pradesh’s public education system.
According to official data accessed by NDTV, 1,022 schools across the state are currently operating in buildings that are either dilapidated or completely missing. The infrastructure crisis goes even further:
- Over 12,000 government schools have only one teacher
- Nearly 9,500 schools do not have electricity
- Around 2,972 schools lack toilets for girls
- 3,342 classrooms sanctioned years ago have still not been built
The girl from PM Shri School has gone home with her stitches. But the broader issue remains unresolved. How many warnings must be issued before action is taken? How many students must be at risk before classrooms are made safe?
Until those questions are answered with action, the damage isn't just physical. It's institutional. And it keeps piling up, one ignored crack at a time.
