Education / Student Dies After Falling From Staircase at Nabarangpur Ashram School

Nabarangpur, Oct 10: A Class VI student died after allegedly falling from a staircase while carrying a bucket of water to a bathroom at an ashram school in Odisha's Nabarangpur district, triggering allegations of negligence and raising questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The incident occurred at Jamguda Ashram School under under Jharigam block. The deceased has been identified as Rupendra Bhatra, a resident of Kusumguda village under Dangariguda gram panchayat.

According to reports, Rupendra had gone to use the bathroom at around 5 PM on Friday. He was reportedly carrying a bucket of water and climbing a staircase to the upper floor when he allegedly slipped and fell.

School authorities immediately rushed the injured student to the Umerkote Sub-Divisional Hospital and informed his family members about the incident. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Rupendra's family members said they received a phone call from school authorities informing them that the boy had fallen and was being taken to hospital. By the time they reached the hospital, he had succumbed to his injuries.

The tragedy has taken a contentious turn with family members questioning the school's version of events. Rupendra's elder brother alleged that the school administration should be held accountable and claimed the family had entrusted the child to the hostel in good faith.

The family has reportedly filed a complaint with the police and demanded a fair investigation into the incident.
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Adding to the controversy are reports that the school has been facing a water supply crisis for the past five days. Sources said a malfunctioning water motor had prevented water from being pumped into overhead tanks, forcing hostel inmates to carry water in buckets from the ground floor to upper floors for bathing and other daily needs.

Family members have also raised doubts about the nature of the injuries. They questioned why there were reportedly no visible external injury marks on the student's body despite the claim that he fell from a staircase.

Meanwhile, police registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.