Srinagar, Nov 14 (KNO): Unlike other schools wherein the kids don special dresses and uniform for the skit and other celebrations on Children’s Day, a quieter, devastating scene unfolded in Kupwara, where a young girl lost her life after a boundary wall collapsed on her.
For the family of the 9-year-old kid who lost her life on the day meant for laughter and celebration turned into a nightmare in a government school in Kupwara on Children's Day, when a school wall collapsed, leaving a grade-3 girl student dead.
While the authorities have ordered an inquiry into the incident, Children's Day 2026 in Kashmir will be remembered not for the celebrations, but for the terrifying moment.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in a communique in this regard said, “In view of the unfortunate death of student of Class 3rd within the School premises and pending enquiry, Head of the Institution (HoI) UPS Bandpora, Zone Drugmulla, Kupwara is placed under suspension with immediate effect.”
DSEK said that during the period of her suspension, she shall remain attached with the office of Chief Education Officer, Kupwara. “Further, Hakeem Tanveer Ahmad, (JKAS), Joint Director- North is appointed as Inquiry Officer who shall conduct the in-depth inquiry into the circumstances that has caused the untoward incident.”
The director said that the Inquiry Officer shall submit his report within 03 days.
In a separate communique, DSEK said that the report submitted by Chief Education Officer, Kupwara states that on 14-11-2026 during the lunch break students of Government UPS Bandpora, Zone Drugmulla having 175 enrolled students, were playing in the school lawn.
“During, this period some students reportedly moved towards the rear side of the school building where a boundary wall adjoining the school premises collapsed.
As per the information received from CEO Kupwara, one student of Najar Mohalla, Bandpora Drugmulla, Class-3, aged 9 years, came under the debris of the collapsed wall,” it reads.
The communique said that the student was immediately shifted to Sub District Hospital Kupwara, where she was declared dead by the attending medical authorities. “The exact cause of the collapse of the boundary wall is yet to be ascertained and requires detailed investigation by the technical officers.”—(KNO)