A tragic incident in Vasai, Maharashtra has left a family grieving and education authorities scrambling for answers after a 12-year-old schoolgirl died following what her family describes as excessive punishment by a teacher.
The Fatal Punishment
Anshika Gaud, a Class 6 student, was allegedly forced to perform 100 sit-ups as punishment for arriving late to school on Saturday, November 8. According to fellow students and their parents, the physical punishment was administered by teacher Mamta Yadav, who made several late-coming students complete the strenuous exercise routine.
Multiple witnesses confirmed that the children were compelled to perform over 90 sit-ups each before being allowed to return to their classrooms. While other students reportedly recovered from the physical exertion, Anshika's condition took a dramatic turn for the worse.
Rapid Deterioration and Hospitalization
After returning home from school, Anshika began feeling unwell and eventually fell asleep. Her condition deteriorated rapidly throughout the day, with the young girl experiencing significant breathing difficulties that prompted her family to rush her to a local hospital.
When her condition failed to improve at the local medical facility, she was transferred to Mumbai's renowned JJ Hospital for advanced medical care. Despite receiving treatment at the specialized facility, Anshika passed away on Friday night, exactly one week after receiving the punishment.
Official Response and Investigation
The Waliv police have registered an accidental death report in the case while awaiting crucial evidence. "We are awaiting the postmortem report and the school education department inquiry report based on which further course of action will be decided," a police officer stated.
The school education department has initiated a formal inquiry into the incident, with Vasai's education officer Sonali Matekar confirming that a team visited the school on Saturday to conduct preliminary investigations. "As per their report, a few students of the school were made to do sit-ups as punishment for being late to school on November 8 by a teacher named Mamta Yadav," Matekar told reporters.
Education authorities emphasized that corporal punishment is strictly prohibited under Indian law and that schools and teachers have been repeatedly made aware of this prohibition. A committee is now conducting a detailed inquiry, with promises of strict action against those found responsible.
The grieving parents of Anshika Gaud have squarely blamed both the teacher and school administration for their daughter's untimely death, raising serious questions about the implementation of anti-corporal punishment guidelines in Indian schools.
