Student dies at Rajasthan school, family alleges electric shock from water cooler
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A 9-year-old Class 5 student died on Monday evening at Bal Bharti School in Sadulshahar, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, after allegedly coming into contact with an electrically charged water cooler. The child's family has accused the school administration of negligence and is refusing to claim the body until an impartial investigation is conducted and those responsible are held accountable.
What Happened
The deceased, identified as Devansh, son of Bhupendra Mehra and a resident of Ward 23, had reportedly gone to drink water during evening practice for a tournament when the incident occurred. According to his family, he came into contact with a water cooler that allegedly had an electrical leakage, suffered an electric shock, and sustained burns on his leg. His body was subsequently taken to a hospital mortuary.
The family states that Devansh had been attending evening tournament practice sessions at the school for the past four months. They allege that the faulty cooler's electrical leakage had been reported to school management previously, and that timely repairs could have prevented the tragedy.
Family's Demands and Protest
Devansh's mother and his 12-year-old brother have demanded an impartial enquiry into the incident. The family has stated it will not accept the body until concrete action is taken against those found responsible. Their refusal has triggered tension in the area, with relatives joining in demanding accountability from the school's management for what they describe as a preventable failure in safety upkeep.
School Management Denies Allegations
School operator Sarvjit Singh Saran has denied the family's claims, calling the allegation that the child died due to electrocution baseless. With sharply conflicting accounts from the family and the school administration, the precise cause of death remains to be established through a formal investigation.
Investigation Awaited
Authorities are yet to release findings on the exact circumstances of Devansh's death. A detailed probe will be required to determine whether electrical negligence played a role in the tragedy. The case has drawn attention to broader concerns over electrical safety standards at school premises across the region. How investigators resolve the conflicting claims will be closely watched by the child's family and the local community.