2 students killed, 3 hurt as pillar falls at Janmashtami programme

UDAIPUR: Two government school students were killed and three seriously injured during a 'matki phod' (pot breaking) competition as a part of Janmashtami festival celebrations here on Wednesday afternoon. A cement pillar, along with the pole on which the pot was tied, got uprooted and fell on the girls who were watching the event, said police.
The incident took place at the Jogi Talab Higher Secondary School in Girwa panchayat samiti under the city's Govardhan Vilas police station area.The villagers immediately took the injured students to a nearby private hospital.
"Two girls died in the accident, while three students are undergoing treatment. The condition of one girl is said to be critical," said SHO Ajay Singh of Govardhan Vilas police station. Radha (12) and Narayani (17) died during treatment. The injured-Vandana, Basanti and Kesar-are under treatment.
Udaipur Rural MLA Phool Singh Meena and district collector Arvind Poswal reached the hospital and met the injured children. Police said the incident happened at Jogi Talab Higher Secondary School. The pot was tied with a rope to the cemented foundation pillar of the pipe installed for hoisting a flag on the school roof. When the girls in the pyramid formation pulled the pot, the pole along with the pillar fell.