Tribal student of Thane ashram school dies of fever; principal, two staff suspended

Shahapur (Thane): An 11-year-old tribal boy studying in Class 5 at the government ashram school at Pise in Bhiwandi taluka has died after a fever. His mother has alleged that the school informed the family late even though the boy had had a fever for four days, and that he was not given timely treatment.

According to her complaint, she received a call from the school on the morning of October 9 saying her son was unwell and was being taken to the government hospital at Shahapur. When she reached the school, the boy was struggling to breathe. He was taken to the Shahapur government hospital, where he died within half an hour while doctors were treating him.

Rajashri Galande, project officer of the tribal development department, said the principal, warden and class teacher had been suspended for negligence after a preliminary inquiry. On the mother's complaint, the Shahapur police have registered a case against the three under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. The investigation is under way and no one has been arrested so far.

Local residents and tribal organisations protested outside the tribal development project office at Shahapur and called off the protest after the suspensions and the registration of the case.

Source: The Hindu