Bhadrak: In a tragic incident, one girl student of Binayakpur Primary school under Basudevpur block of Bhadrak district died while three other school children suffered serious injuries after a wall collapsed on them while they were playing during school hours.
The incident took place outside the school premises when the children were plucking black plums from a tree during lunch break.
According to sources, one of the walls of a dilapidated house near the school collapsed following which one student identified as Manasi Malik died while 3 others suffered serious injuries. The injured have been shifted to SCB Medical College & Hospital in Cuttack.
“He was plucking black plums from the tree during lunch when the wall collapsed,” mother of one of the injured children, Kaushalya Malik, said.
Some locals alleged that teachers allow the children to play outside saying that there is lack of space inside the school premises.
“We had raised objection on children playing outside the school but one of the teacher said we don’t have enough space inside the school premises,” a local resident, Nityanand Das said.
Irate over the mishap, locals locked the main gate of the school thereby detaining the teachers. Later, the headmaster of the school was reportedly suspended for negligence by the block education officer.
Speaking on the issue, Bhadrak collector said that the State government will bear all the medical expenses of the injured school children.
“3 children have been admitted to the hospital and CDMO has also been informed regarding the incident. Government will take care of all the medical expenses of the children. After an investigation, we will get to know who is responsible for the tragedy,” Bhadrak Collector, Gyan Das said.