Bihar: Student electrocuted inside government school in Darbhanga, 7 others injured

PATNA: In a shocking incident, a class-I girl student was killed after being electrocuted when she touched the iron gate of her classroom at upgraded secondary school at Jale (west) in Darbhanga at around 1pm on Friday. A damaged live wire had come in contact with the iron gate.
The slain girl was identified as Chanchala Kumari, aged around eight years. She was a native of Jale. Her father Bharat Jha runs a small shop selling salt, candles and matchboxes in the village to meet ends.Chanchala’s elder brother Rahul Jha (14) studies in class-VIII in the same school.
Her six other classmates and a teacher Sunita Kumari were also injured from electrocution as they tried to pull Chanchala away from the gate in which current was flowing.
Shockingly, the Darbhanga district education officer Mahesh Prasad Singh blamed rats for the entire incident.
Singh said that the block education officer has informed him that the wiring was done on a temporary basis.
“It seems the live wire pulled to bring electricity inside the classroom was nibbled by rats. The damaged part of wire came in contact with the iron door of the classroom which Chanchala touched and got electrocuted.
Singh said that the teacher Sunita and six other students were also injured after being electrocuted one by one while trying to save the girl.
“All of them were rushed to hospital. None of them are serious,” he said.
He said that district programme officer (establishment) Vijay Chandra Bhagat and district programme officer (midday meal scheme) Sanjay Kumar Dev Kanahiya had gone to the spot for conducting an inquiry.
Meanwhile DM (in-charge) Tanai Sultania said action would be taken against erring officials due to whom the incident took place.
“As the incident took place inside the school premises, it was the responsibility of the school administration to look into all the things. Authorities have been pressed into action for a thorough inquiry and for fixing responsibility,” he said.
Sultania said that district administration is also looking into the provision of giving ex-gratia to the girl’s parents and assistance to those who were injured in the electrocution incident.