Four-year-old girl dies after school compound wall, gate collapse in Karnataka’s Madikeri

Madikeri (Karnataka), Aug 8 (IANS) A four-year-old girl died after an old compound wall and gate of a government-run tribal welfare school collapsed on her at Basavanahalli village in Kushalnagar taluk of Kodagu district, police said on Saturday.

The deceased has been identified as Apoorva, daughter of Sathish and Pavithra. The incident had taken place on Friday evening. According to the family, Apoorva had gone to the Valmiki Ashrama School to bring her sister home when the accident occurred.

The incident took place amid rainfall in the area. Apoorva was reportedly standing near the school gate, waiting for her sister to come out, when the old compound wall collapsed onto the gate. The gate subsequently fell on the child, causing severe injuries to her head.

Despite efforts to save her, Apoorva succumbed to her injuries.

The Valmiki Ashrama School is run under the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) of the Karnataka Tribal Welfare Department and accommodates around 200 students.

The family members have alleged negligence on the part of the school management and the officials responsible for maintaining the premises.

The family alleged that the school gate was rusted and in a poor condition and should have been removed or repaired before it posed a danger to students and others visiting the school.

“The people who have taken responsibility for the children should look after them properly. I had gone to work. I have four children, and my child had gone to school,” the family members said.

They also alleged that the compound wall was old and had been posing a danger for some time. The family has held the ITDP department and school staff responsible for the incident and demanded accountability.

The incident has raised questions over the safety and maintenance of government-run tribal welfare schools in the district. Parents have expressed concern that the old walls and other structures on the school premises could pose a threat to the lives of students.

The family has demanded that the authorities conduct a thorough inspection of the school premises and take immediate steps to remove or repair unsafe structures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The responsibility of maintaining the school infrastructure and ensuring the safety of students has come under scrutiny following the death of the four-year-old. Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances leading to the collapse and take appropriate action. The police have taken up further investigation of the case.

–IANS

mka/rad