Tragic news: School electrocution claim life of a teenager in Kerala, with his mother still unaware in Kuwait.
A heart-wrenching incident has occurred in Kerala, India, where a Class 8 student named Mithun lost his life after being electrocuted while attempting to retrieve his footwear from a school rooftop. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for action to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Mithun, who had only been attending the school for a month, was dropped off by his father, Manu, in the morning. His mother, Suja, who works as a home nurse in Kuwait, had spoken to both Manu and Mithun over the phone before leaving for work. The tragic incident occurred later in the day.
State Education Minister V. Sivankutty described the incident as a "sad day" and expressed that they have lost "one son of ours." Sivankutty has ordered a visit to the school and will submit a report. The incident took place at a state-supported Boys School in Thevalakkara, Kollam.
The electric line that caused the electrocution has been in place for the past four decades, and the shed where the incident occurred was built eight years ago. Efforts to contact Suja have been unsuccessful as she is currently on a trip with the family she works for in Kuwait. Relatives of Mithun are yet to be informed of his death.
Despite best efforts to save him, Mithun succumbed to his injuries. Shaji Thomas, the Executive Engineer at the site, claims the Electricity Board is not at fault. State Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty has instructed the Chief Electrical Inspector to prepare a report. Local legislator Kovoor Kunjumon has vowed to take appropriate action against any negligence found.
Sivankutty has threatened action against those who neglected their duties. The school is expected to have a fitness certificate, but it remains unclear whether the school had the required certificate.
Preventing electrocution incidents on school rooftops requires a combination of safety measures and precautions. Regular inspections, secure electrical lines, proper installation, barriers and signs, training and awareness, certification and compliance, emergency preparedness, access control, supervision, electrical safety equipment, and weather conditions are all crucial factors in maintaining a safe environment.
By implementing these measures and precautions, schools can significantly reduce the risk of electrocution incidents on rooftops. All state-run schools must submit a fitness certificate before the academic year begins.
This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of safety measures in schools. Our thoughts are with Mithun's family and friends during this difficult time.
The tragic death of Mithun, a Class 8 student in Kerala, has sparked calls for action and implementation of safety measures in schools to prevent similar accidents. This incident occurred on a school rooftop where an old electric line led to his electrocution. The negligence, if any, is under investigation by the State Electricity Minister and Chief Electrical Inspector.
Schools can significantly reduce the risk of such incidents through regular safety inspections, proper electrical line installation, barriers, training, certification, emergency preparedness, access control, supervision, electrical safety equipment, and adherence to weather conditions.
All state-run schools are expected to have a fitness certificate before the academic year begins, but it remains unclear whether this school had one. The state Education Minister has threatened action against those who neglected their duties.
This heart-wrenching event underscores the necessity of prioritizing safety in education, not just for general news or avoiding accidents, but also for the well-being of our children and the future of education and self-development. Our thoughts are with Mithun's family during this difficult time.
This incident also highlights the interconnectedness of politics (policies and evasion of accountability), crime and justice (negligence leading to death), and culture (valuing safety and awareness) in our society.
