School building collapses in Kerala’s Chalakudy, holidays avert major tragedy

Chayipankuzhi Government UP School building in Kodassery grama panchayat in Thrissur, Keralam.

The Sree Krishna Jayanti holiday averted a potential tragedy on Friday (September 4, 2026) when part of the UP School Chayipankuzhi government school building in Kodassery grama panchayat, Thrissur, Keralam, collapsed, allegedly due to the ongoing construction of the Hill Highway.

First, a wall collapsed near a school where excavations were being done for the Hill Highway project. Soon part of the school building and the open stage also collapsed.

The collapse is believed to have been caused by extensive excavation work being carried out near the school building as part of the motorway construction. A large pit was reportedly dug next to the structure, weakening the soil around its foundation.

The affected classrooms have not been used since the highway work began due to concerns about the safety of the building. The campus was deserted on Friday due to the holiday.

“Thanks to the holiday, a major disaster was avoided,” said local residents.

A school bus parked in front of the building was damaged in the accident.

The damaged structure was built in 2002 using former MLA Savithri Lakshmanan’s local development fund. Classes are currently held near the collapsed section, raising new concerns for the safety of students and staff.

The incident has once again cast a spotlight on the security measures that are taken around educational institutions during major infrastructure works, with the collapse narrowly averting what could have been a devastating accident.

Published – 04 Sep 2026 17:41 IST