Karnataka: Stacked containers come crashing down on Higher Primary School

MANGALURU: Stacked containers came crashing down on DK ZP Higher Primary School at Angaragundi at Baikmapady near here in the intervening night, causing damage to the school building. The containers meant for import/export through New Mangalore Port, were stored in a private property in Baikampady industrial area adjacent to the school. The incident came to light when the teachers and students arrived at the school on Monday.

B A Khader Shah, assistant director, department of information and public relations, also an alumnus of the school said the school authorities had been repeatedly requesting the owners of the adjacent property where the containers were stacked, to remove them in view of danger it posed. Containers were also blocking natural flow of air resulting in a stifling atmosphere inside the school, causing inconvenience teachers and students, he said.

The incident not only resulted in the compound wall completely collapsing, but also in a large crack opening up on the western side of the school building. The crack also resulted in a few stones in the wall falling down. Manjula, block education officer, Mangaluru north block and Purushottam Chitrapura, former deputy mayor and area corporator, parents of students, locals too visited the spot on receipt of information and took stock of the situation.

Purushottam Chitrapura and the locals vented their ire on the adjacent property owners for allowing this incident come to pass. Their anger was fueled from concern about the possible loss of lives that could have taken place if the incident had happened while the school was functioning. They also demanded that permission given to stack the containers be cancelled.

Ravikala Shetty, school head teacher has lodged a complaint with the jurisdictional Panambur police station in this regard. Rajendra D S, assistant commissioner of police, Mangaluru north sub-division said a case under section 427 of IPC (mischief causing damage to amount of Rs 50 — whoever commits mischief and thereby causes loss or damage to amount of Rs 50 or upwards) will be registered in this connection once the court gives permission.