Ground report: Crumbling roofs, cracked walls expose grim reality of Bihar schools

A collapsed staircase killed a 9-year-old girl at a government school in Bihar’s Khagaria. Now, a ground report from across the state has revealed a disturbing reality. Children are still studying in schools with cracked walls, damaged ceilings and unsafe classrooms. In Darbhanga, benches and bricks have even been stacked beneath a roof after a pillar gave way, turning a classroom into a constant safety risk.

A ground reality check by India Today across four districts, Chhapra, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur and Begusarai, found damaged ceilings, cracked walls, exposed reinforcement bars, unsafe classrooms and a shortage of space forcing children to study in verandas or share classrooms.

But in Darbhanga’s Kiratpur, the condition of the school building reveals an even more alarming picture. A pillar reportedly gave way around four or five months ago, and benches and bricks are now being used as makeshift supports to prevent the roof from collapsing. DARBHANGA SCHOOL USES BENCHES AND BRICKS TO SUPPORT ROOF

The primary school in Kiratpur, located in Alinagar block of Darbhanga, caters to students from Classes 1 to 5. The building is in a severely dilapidated condition, with plaster peeling from the walls and ceiling, large cracks across the structure and rusted reinforcement bars exposed in several places.

The most dangerous section is where a pillar collapsed around four or five months ago. Classes were stopped in that portion after the pillar failed.

Instead of demolishing the unsafe structure or carrying out permanent repairs, benches have been stacked on top of one another and supported with bricks in an apparent attempt to prevent the roof from collapsing.

With the building considered unsafe, teachers are not conducting classes in the affected areas. Students are instead being taught under a tin shed on the school premises. During the rainy season, water reportedly leaks through the tin shed, adding to the difficulties faced by the children.HEADMASTER SAYS OFFICIALS WERE INFORMED REPEATEDLY

Kiratpur school headmaster Rajendra Kumar said officials at both the block and district levels had been informed about the condition of the building multiple times.

According to him, the authorities were apprised of the situation around five or six times. Letters were sent and officials also inspected the school, but no new building was provided and no permanent repair work was carried out. The condition of the school has also been raised in the Bihar Legislative Assembly. Local BJP MLA Maithili Thakur highlighted the condition of the building during the budget session. Despite this, the school administration says there has been no significant improvement even after several months.

The situation has gained further significance after the Khagaria school accident. Following the death of the girl, Bihar Education Minister Mithlesh Tiwari said it was the headmaster’s responsibility to inform the government in time if a school building was in a dilapidated condition. He also warned that action would be taken if such information was not provided on time.

The claim from the Kiratpur school administration that officials had already been informed several times raises questions over why the building remains unsafe.BIHAR GOVERNMENT’S SCHOOL REVAMP PLAN

The condition of the Kiratpur school comes against the backdrop of the Bihar government’s recently announced campaign to improve government schools.

During the ‘Panchayat’ programme on India Today, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced the ‘Seva Sankalp aur Kayakalp’ campaign to improve facilities in government schools.

He said facilities such as bathrooms, gates, boundary walls and painting in village schools would be repaired or improved. According to the Chief Minister, the government aims to spend around Rs 20,000 crore over the next two years on the initiative.

Choudhary said November 30 had been set as the deadline for minor and immediate works such as installing gates, repairing boundary walls and painting. New construction work was targeted for completion by March 31.

However, the problem at Kiratpur is not limited to basic amenities. A pillar of the school building has already failed, forcing classes to shift to a tin shed outside the unsafe structure. CHHAPRA: CLASSES STOPPED IN UNSAFE ROOMS

The ground report from Chhapra found damaged ceilings and staircases at Ramchandra Prasad Mahashay Arya Shishu Vidyalaya in Chhapra city.

Plaster from the ceiling above the staircase has broken away at several places, exposing the reinforcement bars. The plasterwork above the stairs is also damaged.

Several classrooms where students currently study have damaged ceilings, with reinforcement bars visible where the plaster has fallen. Teaching has been suspended in several classrooms because of their condition.

Senior teacher Upendra Kumar Pathak said the school has Classes 1 to 8 and around 250 students. The Education Department has been informed in writing multiple times about the condition of the building.

The shortage of classrooms is also creating difficulties in enrolling new students.MUZAFFARPUR: CRACKED WALLS AND LEAKING TIN ROOF

At the Government Primary School in Bahalkhana, Ward No. 39, Muzaffarpur, cracked walls and a damaged tin roof are affecting the learning environment.

The roof leaks during the rainy season. Headmaster Abhishek Kumar said multiple classes are being conducted in a single room because of a shortage of space.

The same premises also house a storeroom, kitchen and washroom. The headmaster said the department has repeatedly been informed about the condition of the school.BHAGALPUR: TWO CLASSES IN ONE ROOM

At Navtoliya Primary School in Sabour block of Bhagalpur, a shortage of classrooms has forced two classes to be conducted in the same space.

Two blackboards have been installed in the room to facilitate the lessons. The ceiling of one classroom is also in a dilapidated condition.

Teacher Vibhakar Kumar said the lack of adequate space leaves the school with little choice but to seat children together for lessons.

Students and parents have also raised concerns about the condition of the school building.BEGUSARAI: THREE CLASSROOMS DECLARED UNFIT

At the Upgraded Middle School in Baghi, Begusarai, three classrooms have been declared dilapidated and unfit for use by the Education Department.

The school has 413 students and 15 teachers. With the three classrooms unavailable, classes for several grades are being conducted in the veranda.

Some children sit on benches while others sit on the floor during lessons. Broken and unfit benches.

Headmaster said the department had been contacted repeatedly since 2017 regarding the construction of a new building, but the new structure has still not been built.

Teacher Kamini Kumari said there is a constant risk of plaster falling from the damaged ceiling, which is why many classes are conducted in the veranda.KHAGARIA ACCIDENT BRINGS SCHOOL SAFETY INTO FOCUS

The condition of these schools has come to light after the death of 9-year-old Ritika Kumari following the collapse of a staircase at a government school in Khagaria.

The ground reports from Darbhanga, Chhapra, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur and Begusarai show different manifestations of the same problem: unsafe buildings, damaged ceilings, cracked walls and inadequate classrooms.

In Kiratpur, children are being taught under a tin shed after a pillar gave way. In Chhapra, several classrooms have been taken out of use. In Muzaffarpur, classes are being conducted in cramped conditions alongside other facilities. In Bhagalpur, two classes share one room, while in Begusarai, students have been moved to the veranda after three classrooms were declared unfit.

The Bihar government has announced deadlines under its ‘Seva Sankalp aur Kayakalp’ campaign for improving school infrastructure. The condition of these schools now puts the focus on whether the promised work will address not only basic facilities but also buildings that have already become unsafe for children.- Ends

Rohit Kumar Singh is an award-winning journalist with about 23 years of experience across broadcast, print, and digital media platforms. He has been associated with the India Today Group for the last 18 years and is currently serving as Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Bihar.

Known for his sharp political understanding and strong field reporting, Rohit has established himself as a credible and influential voice in Bihar journalism. He leads a team of reporters and oversees coverage of major political, administrative, and social developments across the state.

Over the years, Rohit has extensively covered key political events, elections, governance issues, and policy developments in Bihar and Jharkhand. He has also conducted exclusive interviews with several influential political leaders and public figures across party lines.

His journalism is recognised for factual accuracy, balanced reporting, and insightful political analysis. With a strong focus on ground reporting and compelling storytelling, Rohit brings depth, context, and clarity to complex political developments.

His reporting reflects a deep understanding of Bihar's evolving political landscape, caste dynamics, and regional issues, making his work widely respected among viewers and industry peers alike.