At least seven children have died and 26 others have been injured after part of the roof and walls of a government school in western India collapsed, police said.

"So far, seven children have lost their lives and 26 others have been injured," Nand Kishore, a senior police officer in the state of Rajasthan, told AFP.

A local police officer, who wished to remain anonymous, told Reuters that the school building was old and the roof had probably collapsed as a result of heavy rains in the region.

"There were 25-30 children in the room when the roof collapsed after morning prayers," Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar told AajTak news channel.

Footage from news channels showed local residents gathered around the site of the collapse. Distraught family members could be heard crying as authorities used a crane to clear the debris. 

Local media reported that 32 students had been rescued unharmed, but rescue operations were continuing.

"The concerned authorities have been instructed to provide proper treatment to the injured children," Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma wrote on X.

Some of the injured children are in critical condition, local police officer Amit Kumar said. | BGNES