A school balcony collapsed injuring at least 40 pupils in India.

Schoolchildren aged between eight and 15 were rushed to hospital for treatment after the first-floor veranda of the building caved in during a morning assembly at Awadh Academy School in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, on August 23.

Footage shows officials rescuing trapped students using a ladder.

Dinesh Kumar Singh, the Superintendent of Police in Barabanki, said that it was likely due to overloading as per their initial investigation.

Local media reported that the school management had gone into hiding following the incident. Authorities are now investigating what happened, with the school manager as the primary focus.

To ensure the safe return of students to their homes, support stations were established at both the hospital and the school, and parents were promptly notified.