Divya Delhi: An eighth-grade student who witnessed the Jhalawar school roof collapse stated the teacher urged them to sit there despite them complaining about stones falling from the ceiling. “I was cleaning outside while students were in class. Students alerted the teacher as roof stones fell. She replied nothing was dropping and requested everyone to sit. The teacher exited. All senior females were outside. Students were trapped as the roof fell. Screams sent everyone running. The villagers rescued the stranded students, said a witness. After a government school roof collapsed in Jhalawar, Rajasthan, killing seven students, District Magistrate Ajay Singh Rathore promised strict action against those responsible for the “security lapses and negligence” that caused the incident. On behalf of the administration, I thank Piplodi citizens for their cooperation throughout this tragedy. The next of kin of the slain children just demanded that such tragedies not happen again and that those guilty be punished. The incident is heartbreaking. There have been security breaches and ignorance. DM Rathore informed reporters he would punish those responsible.