A tragic incident at a government school in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district has claimed the life of a young student. The boy, identified as Mohith, was crushed to death when a parapet wall on the school campus suddenly collapsed on Tuesday afternoon.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The victim, Mohith, was the elder son of Sarathkumar from Kondapuram village. The Class VII student had just finished his half-yearly examinations and was having his mid-day meal with three friends. At around 1:30 PM, the group was sitting on the low parapet wall when it gave way without warning.
While Mohith's three companions managed to jump to safety, he was tragically trapped under the falling debris. The impact caused severe injuries, and he died on the spot before help could arrive. Teachers rushed to the scene and pulled the student from the rubble, after which his parents were immediately informed.
School Details and Immediate Aftermath
The accident occurred at the Govt High School in Kondapuram, which has an enrollment of over 150 students. The collapsed retaining wall was reportedly constructed during the 2014-2015 period. Initial inquiries by the police are focusing on potential lapses in the wall's construction quality or its maintenance by the responsible contractor.
Following the incident, local officials including R K Pet tahsildar Saraswathi and Tiruttani DSP (in-charge) Kandan visited the site to conduct a preliminary inquiry. The R K Pet police have registered a formal case, and an investigation is now underway.
Public Outcry and Official Response
The tragedy sparked immediate and intense anger among local residents. Nearly 100 people, including the student's relatives and villagers, gathered at the school to protest what they called gross negligence. The protesters alleged that cracks had been visible in the wall for some time, but school authorities had failed to carry out necessary repairs or renovations.
The demonstration lasted for almost five hours, with the crowd initially refusing to allow police to remove the boy's body. After prolonged negotiations, Tiruttani Revenue Divisional Officer Kanimozhi assured the crowd that appropriate action would be taken against the teachers deemed responsible. Only after this assurance did the protesters relent, allowing the body to be sent to Tiruttani Government Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
This heartbreaking event has raised serious questions about infrastructure safety in government schools, turning a routine school day into a scene of profound loss for a family and community.
