With the government focusing on the virtual mode of teaching during lockdowns, students in the tribal hinterlands of the State are facing immense problems due to poor mobile connectivity.
The quest to access mobile network turned fatal for a minor boy in Rayagada district when he slipped from a mountain while negotiating places for the network to attend his online class, on Tuesday.
The deceased has been identified as Andriya Jagaranga from Pandraguda village under Padmapur block in the district.
According to reports, the 13-year-old boy was a student of Cuttack Missionary School. He was regularly attending online classes at home during the Covid-19 induced lockdown period.
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However, his mobile phone had no signal on Tuesday and he was forced to climb atop the mountain near his village in search of signal to be able to attend the online class conducted by his school. Unfortunately, it rained heavily and Andriya failed to keep his balance. Subsequently, he slipped and fell down, receiving serious injuries.
Locals rushed him to Padmapur medical in a serious condition. But he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
It is worth mentioning that online education has not received the desired response due to poor internet connectivity in the remote areas of the hilly districts in the State.
Many times students had to trek for a few kilometers in certain areas dangerously to get a proper signal so that they could attend classes or submit their assignments in the virtual mode of teaching.