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17 children killed as school collapses in India

Other News Materials 18 August 2010 16:35 (UTC +04:00)
At least 17 school children were killed when a school collapsed following heavy monsoon rains in India's northern state of Uttarakhand on Wednesday, officials said.
17 children killed as school collapses in India

At least 17 school children were killed when a school collapsed following heavy monsoon rains in India's northern state of Uttarakhand on Wednesday, officials said.

The roof of the primary school collapsed in the Bageshwar district in the mountainous state, DPA reported.

"Rescue parties have so far recovered the bodies of 17 children," Piyush Rautela, who heads the state's disaster management centre, told reporters.

"Six kids were rescued but the death toll may rise as rescuers are still looking for survivors, including teachers and others in the school," he added.

State officials, police and local agencies were involved in rescue work and clearing the debris.

There were difficulties in reaching the school due to landslides on the roads owing to the heavy downpour.

India's monsoon season usually runs from June to September.

The monsoon rains routinely exact a heavy toll, causing floods, landslides and house collapses and destroying crops.

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