Bhainch Village School Collapse: 5-Year-Old Killed, Several Children Injured After Rockslide in Poonch
By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 21 July 2025
Overview: A Shattered Morning in Bhainch
On July 21, tragedy struck Bhainch Village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, where part of the Government Primary School Kalssa collapsed following a massive rockslide triggered by relentless monsoon rain.
The collapse claimed the life of five-year-old Ehsan Ali, leaving behind a grieving family and a stunned community. Four other children, all under the age of nine, were seriously injured and are undergoing treatment.
Victims: Too Young, Too Soon
Deceased:
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Ehsan Ali, 5, son of Mohd Razaq (Kalsan Bhainch)
Injured (under treatment at District Hospital Poonch):
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Mohammad Safeer, 7
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Bilal Farooq, 8
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Aftab Ahmed, 6
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Tobia Kouser, 7
According to hospital sources, the injured students were rushed in critical condition. Medical staff worked tirelessly to stabilize their condition, and local administration assured all possible support.
Immediate Response
Deputy Commissioner Vikas Kundal visited the hospital personally and sanctioned emergency relief under the Red Cross Fund:
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₹1 lakh to the family of the deceased
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₹50,000 for each injured child
“The district administration shares the pain of the affected families. We will ensure justice and improved safety protocols,”
said DC Vikas Kundal, while addressing reporters.
Cause: Nature Meets Negligence
The collapse was triggered by a rockslide, intensified by heavy rainfall that had continued for days.
While natural causes played a part, locals blame negligence and poor school infrastructure for magnifying the tragedy.
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The school reportedly lacked retaining walls or rockfall protection barriers.
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Locals allege no safety assessment was conducted despite warnings issued during earlier monsoons.
“How long will we keep burying our children before someone takes responsibility?”
questioned Imtiaz Hussain, a resident and relative of one of the injured children.
Growing Outrage: Demands from the Ground
The incident has sparked widespread grief and anger, not just in Poonch but across the Pir Panjal region. Protests broke out outside the Block Development Office in Mandi, demanding:
Key Community Demands:
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Structural audits of all school buildings in vulnerable terrain
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Accountability of school authorities and Public Works Department (PWD)
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Installation of rockslide barriers, drainage channels, and slope stabilization measures
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Deployment of disaster preparedness teams in all rural schools
The Bigger Picture: A Safety Crisis in Remote Schools
This is not an isolated incident.
Did You Know?
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Over 3,000 schools in Jammu and Kashmir operate in dilapidated or semi-damaged buildings (J&K School Education Department report, 2023).
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More than 1,200 lie in landslide-prone or high-rainfall zones.
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No mandatory audits exist for structural safety in rural government schools.
Expert Take
“We’ve known for years that many school buildings in the hills are disasters waiting to happen. But there’s no political will for infrastructure upgrades,”
says Prof. Riyaz Ahmad, an education policy analyst based in Srinagar.
A Community in Mourning
Bhainch has come to a standstill. Schools shut down for a day of mourning, and prayers were held for the young Ehsan Ali. The village has also launched a petition campaign urging the J&K government to:
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Install real-time landslide warning systems in high-risk areas
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Deploy geologists for area surveys before school construction
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Allocate special infrastructure funds for rain-prone hill zones
Local organizations like Poonch Youth Forum and Save the Schools Collective are offering psychological support to grieving students and families.
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for Rural Education Safety
This heartbreaking event must not be allowed to fade into another forgotten headline. It is a grim reminder that basic safety, not just books and teachers, must define a functioning school system—especially in geologically fragile regions like Poonch.
One life lost is one too many. Unless there is an urgent, comprehensive audit and overhaul of rural school infrastructure, more tragedies may follow.
Let this be the last.
