DHARMAPURI: A three-year-old girl was critically injured on Tuesday when a portion of a damaged boundary wall of a panchayat union middle school in Vellichandai, Dharmapuri district, collapsed on her.
The girl, identified as Tharika, daughter of labourers Dhandapani and Abhirami, was playing near the school entrance when the wall gave way. She sustained severe injuries to her abdomen and pelvis.
Neighbours rescued her and rushed her to a private hospital in Karimangalam, where her condition was reported as critical.
The school has approximately 90 students enrolled in classes I to VIII. Local residents alleged that the compound wall had been in a dangerous state for years due to poor maintenance. M Madeswaran, a resident, stated, "Repeated complaints and petitions were submitted to several officials, including district collector R Sadheesh, seeking urgent repairs, but no action was taken."
Another resident, V Palanimuthu, blamed official negligence for the accident. "If the wall had collapsed during school hours, many students would have been injured," he said.
Authorities are yet to comment on the incident. The school remains operational, and parents have expressed concerns about the safety of their children.
