Tragic Incident in Arunachal School: Three Students Lose Lives as Water Tank Falls

Itanagar, Dec 14 (NationPress) Three teenage school students tragically lost their lives, while two others were injured when an overhead water tank at a private school fell on them in Naharlagun, Arunachal Pradesh, on Saturday, as confirmed by local police.

Naharlagun's Superintendent of Police, Mihin Gambo, reported that the students were engaged in play at the St Alphonsa School's playground when the tank, situated near the area, suddenly collapsed, injuring five students in total.

All five injured students were swiftly transported to the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) in Naharlagun, where three of them unfortunately succumbed to their injuries, while the other two continue to receive medical care.

“A post-mortem examination of the deceased will be performed. An investigation is currently ongoing,” the district police chief informed IANS via telephone.

According to local residents, the old overhead water tank may have exceeded its capacity, leading to its collapse.

“Police officials are in discussions with relevant authorities and are investigating the cause of the water tank's collapse,” Gambo added.

All three deceased students were in ninth grade, while the injured students were in sixth and seventh grades.

The police have detained the principal, owner, and four staff members of St Alphonsa School, all of whom are currently being questioned.

In a separate incident, two construction workers from Assam also lost their lives, and two others were injured in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, after a large mound of earth collapsed on them.

This incident occurred while the workers were digging to build a retaining wall when the surrounding earth unexpectedly fell on them.

The victims were identified as Jahan Hemran (45) and Vijay Bag (46), both residents of Dhekiajuli in Assam’s Sonitpur district.