Parents protest as newly renovated school building leaks within 10 days

Parents, former students and residents of Vadakku­panaiyur near Kilvelur staged a sudden protest on Tuesday after rainwater seeped through the roof of a government middle school building that had been renovated at a cost of ₹19 lakh just ten days ago.

The school, which has 120 students, had been functioning with damaged classrooms and toilets for several years. Following repeated pleas from villagers, ₹19 lakh was sanctioned under the 2025–26 SIUS general fund of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, and renovation work was carried out over the past few months.

Residents said they had earlier flagged the poor quality of work, but the contractor allegedly completed the project in haste with little oversight. After the building was handed over for use, the recent heavy rains triggered by the cyclone exposed severe leakage from the newly repaired roof, shocking teachers and parents.

Though local officials inspected the structure and assured immediate rectification, no action has been taken so far, the protesters said. They demanded a thorough inquiry by the district administration into suspected irregularities and called for action against officials and the contractor responsible.

The sudden protest in front of the school briefly triggered tension in the area, as villagers insisted the building be repaired properly and made safe for students.