Bhubaneswar, July 9: Five children aged between three and five lost their lives and nearly 20 others were injured when the wall of a primary school in Nayagarh district collapsed this morning. The state government has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

The incident took place at Suansiaa Upper Primary school under Ranpur police station in Nayagarh, about 75km from here, around 10.45am when the children were having their pre-lunch meal.

The injured were rushed to local hospitals but seven victims were later shifted to the SCB Medical Hospital and College, Cuttack, and the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, in critical condition.

Enraged over the incident, the people surrounded the local police station, burnt tyres on the road and blocked the thoroughfare connecting Chandpur and Sunakhela.

They even locked up the four teachers of the school alleging that the children died because of their negligence. “Had they been careful, the incident would not have occurred,” said a visibly upset Pratap Pradhan, a local resident.

Those who died have been identified as Sachin, Sibuna, Kartik, Rasmita and Pinki. While three died on the spot, two perished on their way to the hospital.

The Nayagarh district administration suspended the headmistress of the school, Sarojini Devi, and two anganwadi workers. The state government today directed all the district collectors to immediately send a report on the status of school buildings in their areas. Sources said the school building was constructed with funds from the Sarva Sikshya Abhiyana. An anganwadi centre was also operating on the school campus.

The state government announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh for the next of kin of the each deceased and started an inquiry into the incident. The government also announced that it would bear medical expenses of the injured children.

“We have asked the department’s secretary to inquire into the incident and submit a report,” said school and mass education minister Pratap Jena. The district has witnessed heavy rainfall during the last one week.

Ramesh Pradhan, one of the eyewitnesses, said: “No teacher was there in the classroom when food was being served to the children. Only an elderly anganwadi worker was there at the time.”

Pradhan said they had rushed to the school on hearing the cries of the children but could not save their lives.

“We then retrieved the body from the debris,” Pradhan said.