Mumbai, Jan 28 (Mid-Day): Five students of Std XI were injured at R N Podar School in Santacruz after a part of the classroom ceiling gave way on Tuesday morning.

The injured students, who were attending a guest lecture in a makeshift classroom of a building inside Podar Education Complex, were rushed to the nearby hospital. While four students got away with minor injuries, a female student who fractured her finger was taken to Lilavati Hospital.

The management of the school is currently in the midst of shifting their Higher Secondary section (Std XI and XII) to their newly constructed building in Khar. However, for the time being, their classes were being held in a smaller section of Podar Jumbo school building.

“We usually never use this classroom, but on Tuesday our Std XI students had a guest lecture and we were looking for a large room to accommodate everyone. When students were shifting to the class, our teacher noticed that the roof was leaking and asked the kids to move to another class,” informed Avnita Bir, principal of the school. She said that while most students left the room immediately, the five students lingered in the classroom, when the incident occurred.

“Except for the girl who fractured her finger, every other student was sent home after they were attended to,” she said. By evening, the student underwent surgery and her parents as well as school authorities were waiting at the hospital for updates. Parents of the students have refused to comment on the incident, adding that many were shaken by the incident.

“My daughter said there was a huge bang in the classroom, which brought all of them to the room where the ceiling had collapsed. With the help of teachers and staff, the injured students were rushed to the hospital,” said one of the parents. Many students also rushed to Lilavati Hospital along with the girl and her parents.

“We are praying that her fracture is not grievous. Her classmates are worried,” said another parent. The management of R N Podar School has now decided to remain closed for the next three days and complete the shifting process.

“We will begin conducting lectures in the new building itself and have decided to halt classes for Std XI and XII for now. Classes will start directly on Monday for them,” informed Bir.