Agartala, October 29, 2025: A third-grade student at Umakanta English Medium School in Agartala was critically injured on Wednesday when a ceiling fan detached and fell during class hours, triggering panic among students and outrage among parents.

According to eyewitness accounts, the incident took place while lessons were in progress. The injured child was rushed to a nearby hospital, with the school principal reportedly accompanying the student for treatment.

Students and teachers alleged that the fan had been malfunctioning for several days, making unusual sounds and rotating abnormally. Despite repeated complaints, no maintenance action was taken. “I was writing on the board when the fan suddenly crashed onto the student. It had been showing signs of fault for quite some time,” said a teacher present in the classroom.

A student also confirmed that several complaints had been lodged with the headmaster regarding faulty fans in multiple classrooms. “This could have been prevented. We had informed the authorities, but they ignored it,” the student said.

Parents who arrived at the school following the incident expressed shock and frustration. “We pay higher fees under the Vidyajyoti scheme, but basic safety standards are not being maintained. Our children’s lives are at risk,” a guardian said.

The school authorities have not yet released an official statement.

The incident has raised serious questions regarding infrastructure safety and maintenance in government and government-aided institutions, prompting parents to demand a thorough investigation and immediate safety audits of all classrooms.