Sundargarh: A nine-year-old schoolgirl of Tangarpali block based ‘Telendihi Kanya Ashram’ in this district sustained critical burn injuries while she was burning waste residues on the school premises to make arrangements for the celebration of Saraswati Puja Tuesday.
She was identified as Jyoshna Baig, a Class VI girl. The incident spread tension among guardians and locals who condemned the negligence of the school authorities. No one was present in the school when the incident occurred, sources said.
According to the sources, the Ashram has 379 girls of all age groups between Class I and Class X. On the occasion of Saraswati Puja, school+ headmaster Shantasila Patel and other teachers had ordered inmates to clean the school premises and prepare a pandal.
As directed, the girls gathered all the wastes at one place and set it on fire.
Meanwhile, Jyoshna who was burning the waste was caught by fire unawares and sustained burn injuries. She was rescued and admitted to Sundargarh district headquarters hospital. On being informed, the girl’s father Marthas Baig and her mother reached the hospital and shifted her to Rourkela Ispat General Hospital (IGH).
Soon, district welfare officer Sunil Kumar Tandi paid a visit to the girl and inquired about her health. He assured to provide all medical assistance from the school fund and brought the matter to the notice of the district collector.
He reached the school premises and launched a probe. Later, he issued a show-cause notice to the school authorities after preliminary investigation revealed negligence on their part.
Tandi expressed discontentment over such incidents repeatedly reported from government ashrams.
In a similar case, a student was burnt after he got hot gruel over his face Damkuda Upgraded Upper Primary School under Subdega block. PNN
