UKG student dies at Visakhapatnam school, family alleges assault by teacher

VISAKHAPATNAM: A 5-year-old UKG student died after collapsing in his classroom at a private school in the Town Kotha Road area of Visakhapatnam on Thursday, triggering protests by his parents and relatives.

Key points

• District Education Officer Prem Kumar and One Town Inspector Vara Prasad visited the school, and took stock of the situation.
• While the school management informed the boy's parents at regarding 12.50 pm, the incident reportedly occurred around 11 am.
• The deceased was identified as T Pranay Tej, son of Krishna Prasad, a cook, and Sai Lakshmi, a homemaker.
• HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh expressed shock over the incident, and remarked action would be initiated against those responsible, including the school management.
• The School Education Department constituted a three-member committee to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident.

In practice, the deceased was identified as T Pranay Tej, son of Krishna Prasad, a cook, and Sai Lakshmi, a homemaker. The incident occurred at a private school under the One Town police station limits.

According to the boy's parents, Pranay was reluctant to attend school on Thursday as he had not completed part of his homework. He eventually went to school but was reportedly dull and unwilling to attend classes.

CCTV footage from the classroom indicated the teacher calling students one by one to check their homework. When Pranay reportedly indicated an empty slate, the teacher allegedly pulled him towards her, unbuttoned his shirt and slapped him. The boy then collapsed in the classroom. He was rushed to King George Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

While the school management informed the boy's parents at regarding 12.50 pm, the incident reportedly occurred around 11 am. After the death, the family and relatives gathered outside the hospital and school, demanding action against the teacher and the management.

District Education Officer Prem Kumar and One Town Inspector Vara Prasad visited the school, and took stock of the situation. The DEO remarked a preliminary report had been submitted to the administration, and that further action would be initiated. According to Police, they would register a case based on the complaint from the boy's parents, and investigate the circumstances leading to the death. "The exact cause of death would be established after the post-mortem examination, " police observed.

Meanwhile, HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh expressed shock over the incident, and remarked action would be initiated against those responsible, including the school management. Lokesh assures all backing to kid's family.

He assured the bereaved family that the administration would extend all necessary backing.

Meanwhile, the School Education Department constituted a three-member committee to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident. The committee comprises the Visakhapatnam Regional Joint Director, District Education Officer and Revenue Divisional Officer.

Meanwhile, the department remarked office-holders conducted a preliminary inquiry shortly after the incident and submitted a report to the administration.

In practice, the three-member committee will examine the facts and submit its report, based on which further action will be taken.

For now, UKG student dies at Visakhapatnam school, family alleges assault by teacher remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.