The General Education Department has launched an inquiry into an incident where a student was bitten by a snake at a school near Neyyattinkara on Friday.
Preliminary inspections have highlighted concerns regarding the poor maintenance of the school and its surrounding areas.
General Education Minister V. Sivankutty had directed the Director of General Education (DGE) to submit a detailed report on the incident, in which a Class 7 student suffered a snakebite during Christmas celebrations inside a classroom at the Government Upper Primary School in Chenkal, a government-aided institution.
Twelve-year-old Neha, a resident of Chenkal, was bitten on her leg by a snake which was later killed by the school authorities. Officials suspect the snake to be a hump-nosed pit viper, a venomous species.
The student was rushed to the nearby primary health centre in Chenkal and later transferred to the Neyyattinkara General Hospital. On Saturday, she was referred to the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital. According to official sources, the child is currently out of danger.
Following instructions from the DGE, the Thiruvananthapuram Deputy Director of Education (DDE) and other senior officials undertook an inspection and submitted a preliminary report. The presence of dense bushes and overgrown plants has raised concerns about the safety of students on the school premises.
The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights registered a suo moto case, directing the DGE and Thiruvananthapuram DDE to submit reports on the incident.
Published – December 21, 2024 07:46 pm IST