The State Human Rights Commission in Kerala has ordered a probe into the death of 10-year-old Shehla Sherin, who died on Wednesday after a snake bit her at her school in Sulthan Bathery, in Wayanad district of Kerala. Her young classmates alleged that school authorities did not take the girl to the hospital on time, despite their repeated pleas that she needed medical help.
P Mohandas, the judicial member of the State Human Rights Commission, has directed the Wayanad District Collector, District police and Deputy Director of Education to probe the matter and submit a report within 15 days.
This order is based on the complaints of human rights activist Veerendhra Kumar as well as UA Ajmal Sajith, Wayanad district president of Lok Thanthrik Youth Janathathal. “The complainants have held the school authorities responsible for the death of the 10-year-old girl. The school is a haven for reptiles. The complaint also stated that although the students had brought this to the attention of the authorities, no action was taken,” the statement read.
The Deputy Director of Education, Kerala Education Department, suspended Shijil, the teacher who allegedly refused to take Shehla to a hospital, despite the fact that she and her friends informed him that she has been bitten by a snake.
Around 3 pm on Wednesday, class five student, Shehla was bitten by a snake in her classroom at Sarvajana HSS in Sulthan Bathery. According to her classmates, Shehla alerted her teacher, who allegedly dismissed the snakebite claim and instead attributed the source of the injury to a nail, even as her leg started to discolour.
Her classmates and another teacher requested the school authorities to take her to a hospital. Instead, they kept the young girl waiting in the hallway outside the classroom for almost 45 minutes, allegedly insisting that they wait for her father to take her to the hospital. But, it was already too late.
As Shehla’s father reached the school, she was rushed to a private hospital, and then taken to the Vythiri Taluk Hospital, where the father was informed that she indeed presented with the symptoms of a snakebite. She was then referred to Kozhikode Medical College hospital. However, she succumbed on the way.
The doctor of the Vythiri Taluk Hospital, Jisa Merin Joy, meanwhile, has also been suspended. According to reports, the doctor was waiting for the parents’ permission to administer the anti-venom. She alleged that she did not get the consent of the parents.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also intervened in the matter, which, he says, “has to be viewed seriously”. Stating Shehla’s death is unfortunate, he extended his condolences to her family.
“It is a teacher’s responsibility to teach children how to respond and what needs to be done urgently in such situations. Here, the students are saying that the school authorities were not willing to take Shehla Sherin to hospital on time, and that they were waiting for her parents,” he said.
The CM said that the government will strict action against the authorities concerned for their lapses and carelessness.