1 Dead, 20 Hurt as Van Carrying School Student Overturns

Cuttack, Odisha: A Class X student died while over 20 of his schoolmates were critically injured after a pick-up van ferrying them to a parade ground on Republic Day met with a mishap in the Banki area of Cuttack district on Sunday.

Tragic Republic Day Accident: Negligence Claims a Student’s Life in Cuttack

The unfortunate incident has triggered outrage among parents and guardians of the students who demanded stringent action against the school authorities. The Cuttack District Education Officer (DEO) sought stringent action against the Headmaster of Malabiharpur High School and wrote a letter to the Director of Secondary Education.

In a letter, the DEO stated that the headmaster of the school, Kanhu Chanran Sahoo, after the flag hoisting programme in the school authorised 25 students of Classes VIII to X to travel by a commercial pick-up van to Saranda parade ground. PET Pushpalata Sahoo was escorting the students in her vehicle.

Unfortunately, the pick-up vehicle met with an accident, and around 25 students were severely injured in the accident. All the injured were initially admitted to the Athagarh Primary Health Care Centre. After preliminary treatment, nine students whose condition worsened were shifted to the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack.

Headmaster Suspended as Probe Launched into School’s Safety Lapses

Unfortunately, one of the injured students later succumbed to his injuries. The incident on an auspicious occasion like Republic Day has sparked outrage in the area. “Due to gross negligence in duties committed on the part of the headmaster, stringent action as deemed proper may be initiated against him,” the DEO’s letter mentioned.

The Cuttack Rural SP said that an inquiry would be initiated regarding why the students were being sent to the parade ground. Later, the School and Mass Education Department visited the injured students involved in the SCB MCH today. Reports said all the injured  students were stable.

New Safety Directives Issued for Schools

A Collector level enquiry has been ordered into the incident. The Headmaster concerned has been suspended. The SME Department would provide Rs 2 lakh to the family of the deceased student and Rs 30,000 to each of the injured students. Instructions have been issued to all schools to take measures to ensure such unfortunate incidents do not recur.