State in shock as 4-year-old girl drowns in open tank at Madurai school

MADURAI: In a tragic incident, a four-year-old girl fell into a water tank inside a kindergarten school at KK Nagar in Madurai on Tuesday, leading to a big hue and cry across the State over safety of young kids in schools.

After the incident, the Madurai district administration launched a large-scale inspection to ensure all schools function with proper safety facilities and precautions.

The deceased child has been identified as A Arudhra of Uthangudi and was one of the students who earlier attended summer special classes too at the kindergarten school. While playing with fellow students, Arudhra reportedly fell into a twelve feet deep water tank, which carelessly left open in the school campus. The water tank didn’t have a lid to cover it, sources said.

Some of the fellow students, after witnessing the incident and informing the teachers, who initially attempted to rescue the girl on their own. As they could not succeed in their efforts, Fire and Rescue Services personnel were called in.

The girl was later rescued by fire personnel, after a delay, and rushed to a private school. But despite treatment, the girl was pronounced dead by the doctors. On hearing the information, shocked parents rushed to take their children, as they weren’t sure of the safety at the premises.

On being alerted about the incident, a team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Madurai north, GS Anitha and officials from Departments of Revenue and Education inspected and held enquiries with school correspondent Dhivya and four other teachers. They arrested the correspondent and her aide and are grilling them over the careless act.

Parents of fellow students rushed to the kindergarten school in panic after they were made aware of the incident and took their children back home. Based on a complaint, Annanagar police have filed a case. Madurai Revenue Divisional Officer RD Shalini locked and sealed the school.