JHALAWAR, RAJASTHAN — Students who discovered four asteroids will name one in memory of seven children killed in a school building collapse. The incident occurred in July 2025 at a government school in Piplodi, Jhalawar, where 27 other students sustained serious injuries. The initiative aims to honor the victims by assigning their memory a permanent celestial identity.
Asteroid Discovery and Permanent Recognition
The four asteroids were discovered between 2020 and 2021 by students from Government Senior Secondary School, Unhel, Jhalawar. These celestial bodies have completed full orbits around the Sun. Pan-STARRS, an international organization, has assigned them permanent numbers. This action scientifically verifies their orbits.
The student discoverers include Sugandha Kumari, Komal Kunwar, Harshita Dangi, and Sanjay Kumar. These individuals are now pursuing higher education. Their discoveries were made during the IASC-NASA Asteroid Search Campaign. More than 100 students have participated in this program, collectively identifying 12 main-belt asteroids.
Naming Proposal and Guidelines
Divyendu Sen, a Google-certified educator at Mahatma Gandhi Government School, Pachpahar, guided the students. Sen confirmed that the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC) notified them of the asteroids’ permanent numbering last month. The IASC reserved one of the four numbered asteroids for the survey organization. The remaining three are eligible for name proposals by the student discoverers.
The students have submitted a written request to name one asteroid after the seven deceased schoolchildren. The naming process will follow international guidelines. The proposed name is PRAMISHKA . This acronym combines the initial letters of the victims’ names and ages:
- P ayal (13)
- R iyanka (12)
- M eena (12)
- I arish (11)
- S undan (10)
- K anha (7)
- A tish (8)
Sen stated other acronyms are under consideration before a final decision. He highlighted the students’ desire for science to touch lives. He said, “By sending this name to space, we want their memory to orbit the Sun forever. For us, this is remembrance with love and dignity.”
Approval Process and Community Support
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) holds final approval for asteroid names. Asteroids remain in the solar system for millions of years. Once the IAU approves a name, it becomes a permanent part of scientific literature. Sen confirmed contact with coordinators and authorities. The team will submit full supporting details upon invitation.
Jhalawar Chief District Education Officer Ram Singh Meena expressed support for the initiative. Meena told PTI that naming an asteroid after the children serves as a true act of remembrance. The education department has agreed to follow up on the request.