After struggling for her life for over 12 hours, six-year-old Anusha of Darinayakanapalya breathed her last at 2 am on Wednesday at Victoria Hospital.
Anusha, a first standard student of Government High School, D Palya, fell into a vessel of hot sambar while jostling for space to stand in a queue to avail the mid-day meal.
According to the police, the six-year-old had rushed out of her classroom as soon as the bell rang for lunch. The cooks had prepared sambar and rice that afternoon, and had kept the vessel full of hot sambar outside the kitchen, returning to the kitchen to bring out the vessels containing rice.
The police said that Anusha, who was leading the queue, fell into the vessel of sambar by accident and sustained severe burn injuries. Headmaster KA Krishnappa rushed her to the government hospital for treatment.
“I took her in my car to the hospital for treatment, but the doctors, after giving her first aid, advised me to admit her to Victoria Hospital. Meanwhile, I had informed higher authorities about the incident and brought her to Bangalore to admit her to Victoria Hospital,’’ said Krishnappa. He claimed that he was busy scrutinising applications received for recruiting a guest teacher while the meal was being brought out.
“It is my duty to supervise the distribution of mid-day meals to the students, but I could not come out of the room on time since I was busy scrutinising applications,’’ he said.
Her parents, Venkatalakshmamma and Ashwathappa, were seen distraught and inconsolable, in front of the burns ward at Victoria Hospital on Tuesday morning.
“I never expected my daughter to die at this age. It is the duty of the teachers and cooks to ensure the safety of children,’’ grieved Ashwathappa.
Anusha’s uncle, Kenchappa, said Anusha’s brother Anand is also studying at the same school.
“I want the authorities to take suitable action against those responsible for the unfortunate incident. I think it is the responsibility of the cooks to ensure that the children at a safe distance from the hot vessels. They should have brought the vessel containing rice first and the one containing sambhar later,’’ said Kenchappa.
R Ashwathaiah, education officer, Chikballapur District, has said the headmaster has been suspended and the cooks were dismissed.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}