Tirunelveli: Three people were arrested in connection with the wall collapse at the Government-aided Schaffter Higher Secondary School that claimed the lives of three students.
School Principal Solomon Selvaraj, Headmistress B V Persis Gnanaselvi and a Contractor, who built the collapsed concrete covering wall, were arrested.
Earlier, Tamilnadu Transport Minister R S Raja Kannappan accompanied by Assembly Speaker M Appavu and District Collector V Vishnu, met the family members, who staged a protest demonstration, demanding action against the faulty contruction, pacified them, after they refused to accept the bodies.
The district administration announced closure of the school till further orders to carry out inspection works and study about the stability of the building.
Meanwhile, the Tamilnadu government has formed special teams to inspect school buildings across the State to prevent such mishaps in future.
Chief Minister M.K.Stalin condoled the death of the students and announced Rs 10 lakh compensation each to the family of the deceased and Rs three lakh each to the injured students.
Terming the incident as unfortunate, Minister for School Education, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi told newsmen at Thanjavur that a special team comprising senior officials from the school education department and civil engineers would be set up immediately to inspect all the schools, across the State to ascertain the stability of the buildings. He said the school administration had been asked to explain the incident. He also said unsafe buildings were asked to be demolished.
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder Dr S Ramadoss extended his deep condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased students.
He demanded stern action against those responsible for the incident and urged the State government to provide Rs 50 lakh compensation and a government job to the kin of the deceased families.