VALPOI, OCT 3
School students had a lucky escape, after a tree came crashing down on Government Primary School at Khadki-Sattari late Saturday evening.
However, no one was present in the school at the time of the incident.
“God saved our children, as no one was present in the school at the time of incident. The classes were held in the morning on Saturday,” said the parents.
In the incident, two rooms are damaged, besides a toilet adjacent to the building.
When contacted, Fire Services informed that they cleared the fallen tree and managed to clear the debris by Sunday evening.
“The estimate could not be calculated till tiles from the roof are removed and walls are checked as to how much damage is caused,” said the fire official on duty.
Villagers said though the incident was unfortunate, it has saved their children.
Former Khotode sarpanch Vishwasrao Rane, who resides in the same village, said the incident occurred after 6 pm on Saturday when gusty winds accompanied by rains lashed Valpoi area.
“The tree (Sheeru tree) was not so near to the school building, but due to wind the incident took place,” informed Rane.
Some villagers, who were present at the site, suggested that dangerous trees, if any, close to any school buildings in the State should be permitted to cut by the concerned authorities on priority and by simplifying the lengthy procedure of obtaining licence so as to avoid such type of incidence in future.
Meanwhile, this school building is in the news for the second time in less than one-and-half year, as earlier the incident of collapsing of roof of two classrooms occurred in June 2009. Luckily, the day being Sunday, no one was present in the school.
