Bihar school props up collapsing roof with desks, benches

A primary school in Darbhanga district, Bihar, is operating under precarious conditions after one of its load-bearing pillars collapsed several months ago, forcing authorities to improvise with benches, desks and bricks to prevent further structural failure.

The school, which enrolls 191 students, has been forced to continue lessons despite the hazardous setup, according to reports from the district. The temporary support system remains in place as the roof depends on these improvised props to stay intact.

The situation highlights ongoing infrastructure challenges at government educational institutions across Bihar. School buildings in rural and semi-rural areas across the state have long struggled with inadequate maintenance and delayed repairs, leaving students and teachers working in substandard conditions.

It remains unclear whether district education authorities have submitted repair requests to the state public works department or identified funds for permanent structural restoration. The temporary measures underscore the urgent need for comprehensive infrastructure audits and remedial action at schools across the region.

Bihar's education department has faced persistent criticism over the condition of government school buildings, with numerous facilities reported to suffer from crumbling walls, leaking roofs and structural defects that pose safety risks to students and staff.