Inquiry Ordered in Delhi Schoolgirl's Death
The Delhi government has ordered an impartial inquiry into the death of a 10-year-old girl who died on August 27, more than a month after collapsing at her school in east Delhi. The family has alleged that the girl was punished and harassed by her teacher, while hospital officials said she suffered from a rare and almost always fatal brain disorder.
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood said an impartial inquiry had been ordered into the girl's death, and that the concerned teacher had been transferred with immediate effect to ensure a fair investigation, as reported by Hindustan Times.
The girl, a Class 7 student, died at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), where she had been admitted after the incident. According to the family, she was taken to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital after collapsing and was subsequently referred to IHBAS.
On Monday, the family staged a protest outside the school, demanding answers and calling for police action against the teacher.
Family's Account of the Incident
The girl's family said she left home in Kalyanpuri at around 7 am on July 22. At about 9:30 am, her class teacher called the family, saying the girl had soiled her clothes and asking them to bring a change of clothes. About five minutes later, the teacher called again and asked them to take her home, according to the family, as reported by Hindustan Times.
The girl's grandparents went to the school and found her unconscious in an open area. After regaining consciousness, the girl allegedly told them she had forgotten to bring a book and had been scolded by her teacher and asked to stand at the back of the class with her hand raised. "She was scared and soiled her school dress," the aunt told Hindustan Times.
The family further alleged that after the other students and teacher left the classroom, the girl was locked inside. She told her grandparents that she banged on the door and asked to be let out, but the teacher opened it only later and found her collapsed, the aunt alleged. The girl again collapsed after recounting the incident, following which she was taken to the hospital.
The family said the girl had previously been diagnosed with a neurological condition and had been undergoing treatment. They said they had not approached the police earlier because they hoped she would recover and explain what had happened.
The family also claimed that the school administration did not maintain proper contact with them from the time the girl's condition deteriorated until her death, as reported by India Today. On Monday, the family went to the school and demanded that the police register a case against the teacher and take strict action, according to India Today.
Hospital Officials Cite Brain Disorder
Officials at IHBAS, where the girl died, said she had been suffering from subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare and almost always fatal brain disorder. They said she had been receiving treatment for SSPE for around six months following a consultation at AIIMS, as reported by Hindustan Times.
IHBAS officials described SSPE as a progressive brain inflammation caused by persistent infection with the measles virus, with a mortality rate of about 95%. An IHBAS official said the girl's condition deteriorated eventually and she passed away on August 27.
The family has alleged that the girl's health deteriorated after the harassment and that this ultimately led to her death. India Today reported that the actual cause of her death and what happened to her at the school will become clear only after an investigation.
Government Announces School Health Measures
In the wake of the incident, the Delhi government announced a pilot project to establish dedicated medical rooms in 100 government schools, offering first aid, basic health support and counselling, as reported by Hindustan Times.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the medical rooms initiative would subsequently be expanded to 1,086 schools, based on the pilot's evaluation. The government allocated ₹5 crore for the first phase of the project.