A Class 10 girl student attacked with a chainsaw inside a school in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district remained in critical condition on Sunday, 2 November 2025, with doctors at Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru warning that the next 48 hours would be crucial to her survival. The attack occurred at Zilla Parishad High School in Rapthadu on Saturday morning and has triggered widespread outrage across the state.

What Happened at Rapthadu School

According to official accounts, the attacker — identified as Hemanth, a close relative of the victim — entered the school premises at around 10 am carrying a chainsaw and directly targeted the girl. The incident unfolded in a classroom setting, raising immediate questions about campus security protocols at government-run schools.

The girl was first rushed to a government hospital, where a medical team worked for nearly eight hours to stabilise her condition. Once she was deemed fit for transfer, she was moved to Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru, where surgeons performed an operation lasting close to 12 hours. She is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The accused, Hemanth, remains at large, according to reports.

Lokesh Visits Bengaluru, Pledges Government Support

Andhra Pradesh Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh travelled to Bengaluru on Sunday and met with doctors at Manipal Hospital to personally review the girl's condition and the course of treatment. Lokesh called her 'our daughter' and appealed to people across Andhra Pradesh to pray for her recovery.

Assuring the family of full government support, Lokesh said the incident was 'extremely unfortunate' and should not be politicised. He acknowledged that the attack had exposed gaps in existing school safety systems and committed to strengthening preventive measures to ensure such incidents do not recur.

Lokesh also issued a stern warning against harassment and violence targeting women, stating that anyone behaving indecently or violently toward women in Andhra Pradesh would face severe legal consequences. He assured that all persons responsible for the Rapthadu attack would be held accountable.

School Safety Under Scrutiny

The attack is the latest in a series of incidents that have raised alarm about security arrangements at government schools in Andhra Pradesh. Zilla Parishad High Schools, which are state-administered institutions serving primarily rural and semi-urban populations, typically lack dedicated security personnel or surveillance infrastructure.

Notably, the attacker reportedly walked onto school premises during school hours carrying a chainsaw — a failure of access control that officials have acknowledged must be addressed urgently. Critics have argued that the absence of basic entry checks at government schools makes students, particularly girls, vulnerable.

Key Developments and What Comes Next

As of Sunday evening, the suspect Hemanth had not been apprehended. Police in Anantapur district are reported to be conducting a manhunt. The government has not yet issued a formal statement on the investigation timeline or the specific charges to be filed.

Minister Lokesh stated that stricter security protocols for schools across Andhra Pradesh are under consideration and that the government would not shy away from its responsibility in ensuring accountability. The coming hours will be critical — both for the girl's medical recovery and for the investigation into one of the most shocking school attacks seen in the state in recent memory.