We call schools as our second home. Parents send their beloved kids to school with a belief that they are in safe hands. But when such incident occurs, where a 10-year-old kid studying in class 4 dies, it raises questions, doubts, and angst in our mind.

A 10-year-old kid named Arman Sehgal who lived in Vaishali locality in Ghaziabad died past week. According to school authorities, the incident took place around 7:50 AM. The boy was going from one classroom to another for the weekly unit test. He put his school bag in his classroom and headed for the test with pencil box in his hands. It was during this time that he slipped and got injury in his head. He was rushed to Shanti Gopal Hospital.

Boy’s mother said, “We were informed of the incident late by school authorities. All his clothes were wet and I not only doubt, but I am certain at this point that there was a presence of water on the floor. The school is trying to hide this point. They are saying that the boy’s clothes were wet due to urine discharge. Even the class teacher, in whose presence the incident took place, was brought before us later and only after repeated requests.”

Whereas the principal of the school, Dr. Kavita Sharma said, “He just fell on the floor while he was walking to the other classroom. We immediately rushed him to a nearby hospital but he did not survive. The incident is unfortunate and we will fully cooperate with his parents and the police for an investigation. There was no water on the floor and there was no water source in the vicinity of the incident spot.”

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According to Priti Jaiswal, additional district magistrate (city), “the boy was brought dead. We have ordered (the hospital authorities) to expedite the post-mortem examination and the police to register a complaint from his family. The post-mortem examination will be carried out by a panel of two doctors. We have also started inspection of the school to investigate the alleged laxity on part of the school authorities in the incident. We are trying to find out the circumstances that caused the boy to fall and die.”

SC Dubey, station house officer of Indirapuram police station said, “We are awaiting a formal complaint from the family and a FIR will be lodged at the earliest, upon receipt of the complaint. His family has said that they will lodge a complaint after studying the post-mortem report.”

Let’s stand by this family and hope that the boy gets justice. Let’s be vigilant and aware of our kids’ activities at school. Pass on the message to your respective schools as well so that they are also aware of such possible source of the accident. Ask them to conduct safety audit in the school so that they are well equipped to deal such situation and you are also aware of the readiness of the school.