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A sagging electric line has claimed the life of a Class 8 student in Kerala's Kollam district on July 17. Midhun, 13, a student of Thelavakkara Boys’ school, met with the accident while playing with his friends at the school at around 8.30 am.
The incident happened when Midhun tried to retrieve his footwear, which got stuck on the roof of a shed in the school premises. After climbing on the rooftop, Midhun accidentally touched the electric line, which was hanging close to the roof. A CCTV visual showed the boy falling immediately after coming into contact with the line. Though he was rushed to a nearby hospital, his life could not be saved.
The incident has triggered strong protests, with members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Revolutionary Socialist Party staging protest marches demanding action against the school authorities. The school management, consisting of local Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leaders, has claimed that they had given an application to the local electricity board to shift the line from the school premises.
An official at the Sasthamcotta police station said that a case was registered for unnatural death. "Preliminary investigation shows that the boy got electrocuted while trying to retrieve his footwear. An investigation will be conducted to check whether there were lapses on the part of authorities," police said.
Expressing pain over the incident, General Education Minister V Sivankutty urged the Director of Public Instructions to file an immediate report. Power Minister K Krishnankutty too has asked the electrical circle deputy chief engineer and chief electrical inspector to conduct a probe.
According to Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) officials, the line has been placed at a safe distance from the ground. They alleged that the shed constructed for parking cycles has resulted in the accident.
Midhun's father, Manu, is a daily wage labourer. His mother is working abroad. He has a younger brother, a Class 6 student.
Kerala school student, student electrocuted, school student death, Kollam school student, Tevalakkara boys school, kerala education news, kerala education minister sivankutty, electrical accident