More than century old school building – Happy Balwadi School presently not functioning – collapsed in Ferozepur
About 40 buildings in dilapidated condition, fall anytime
Ferozepur, August 2, 2015: Today, suddenly more than a century old building of Happy Balwadi School, situated in thickly populated area, presently not functioning for the last about four decades, collapsed injuring two persons.
Different stories were coming on surface about the collapse of the building – more than a century old building, certain interested people managed it being lying abandoned for the last so many years and construction of structure on the back of the school building etc.
However, due to Sunday evaded the major occurrence as the collapse building was situated on the busy road because of rush due to nearby bank, popular sanitary shop, availability of labourers and school and colleges.
As per the sources, there are about 40 such buildings in the city, out of which 20 could fall any time. Despite initiative by the local NGOs in the past, only one building was put to ground zero in Old Post Office street otherwise the Municipal Council remained mum over the matter after issue of notice or facing litigation proceedings.
According to President, Municipal Council, the powers to declare the unsafe building is with the B&R Department which has since been provided the relevant record.
The municipal council however, managed to clear the debris and demolishing of the remaining portion to avoid any untoward accident.
At the collapsed building, there was a rush of the local people. Parminder Singh Pinki, MLA was also seen at the site but avoided any commentary.
It may be added that the collapsed building is the property of Hindu Kanya Pathshala which is running Hindu Girls School. Two years back, the roof of this school was also collapsed without any major incident. There had been no management of the school and upper management for the last about 20 years. Once the local NGO had taken the initiated to arrange donation of Rs.50 lac from the NRIs but the same could not be materialized as the surviving members of the managing committee of the school failed to turn up over the table on a call from the district administration. However, the Senior Citizen Forum has now taken up the issue for the revival of management by enrolling new members and formation of new office bearers. But with the collapse of Happy Balwadi School building – a part of Hindu Kanya Pathshala – the fate of the school looks to be dark and the unattended buildings of the school may not be grabbed by the unscrupulous persons keeping eye on it.
