Baddowal Eminence School Remain Closed; Search for Absconding Contractor Continues
Ludhiana: In the Aftermath of the devastating collapse of the roof at Government Eminence School in Baddowal village, Ludhiana, five days ago, the school’s doors will remain closed today. The tragic accident resulted in injuries to three teachers, while another teacher, Ravinder Kaur, tragically lost her life on the spot. Despite initial hopes of the school reopening, District Collector (DC) Surbhi Malik has issued orders for the school to remain closed today.
Meanwhile, Anmol Katyal, an accused contractor affiliated with the BJP, has remained absconding for five days, prompting intensive police efforts to locate him. The police teams, spearheaded by the Dakha Mullanpur police station, are actively tracing the location of the accused’s mobile phone. Although a police raid was conducted at the contractor’s residence yesterday, he was not found at home.
DC Malik has assured that arrangements are underway to relocate the students from the office of the District Education Officer (DEO) to a secure location, where their studies will resume. In a bid to ensure safety, access to schools undergoing renovation work within the district has been restricted for students and staff. Additionally, any planned construction work at schools will be carried out during scheduled holidays.
It is noteworthy that nine schools in the district have been designated as “Eminence Schools.” However, the ongoing renovation work in these schools has necessitated closures. The schools affected by these closures include Jagraon Boys School, Model Town School, Mundiya Kalan School, Khanna School, and others.
The investigation into the Baddowal accident has been slightly delayed due to the presence of vital records within buried cupboards. The staff room, containing essential records, is currently inaccessible beneath debris. Once the debris is fully cleared, the inquiry committee will be able to access the records for further investigation. The committee’s focus includes tracing the utilization of a Rs 3 crore grant allocated to the school over the past three years.
