2 students killed, 3 injured as concrete pillar collapses in Ambala

Two girls, students of a local school, were killed and three injured when a concrete pillar adjoining their school building came crashing down today, the police said.

The deceased were identified as Sheena, 16, and Neha, 17, both students of Class XI of Lord Mahavir Jain Girls Senior Secondary School, Ambala Cantt.

The injured students were admitted to civil hospital at Ambala City, police said.

Police said a drain close to the school building was covered with the concrete slabs. A 10-feet high pillar was constructed on one of the corners of the drain.

When some school children were passing over the drain in the afternoon after the school hours, one of the slabs of the drain broke and the pillar also fell down, burying the two children. Some of the students fell into the drain.

Ambala deputy commissioner Samir Pal Srow ordered a FIR be got lodged against the management of the school.

In a release, Srow claimed the pillar constructed fell within the school premises.

The deputy commissioner also announced financial assistance of Rs1 lakh each from Red Cross Society to the next of kin of the two deceased girl students.

He also announced financial assistance of Rs10,000 each for the three students who were injured in the incident.