Latest news with #ThevalakkaraBoysHighSchool
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Heartbreaking scenes at Kochi airport as mother of Midhun who was electrocuted at school returns from Kuwait
The Kochi airport witnessed heartbreaking scenes on Saturday (July 19, 2025) when Suja, the mother of M. Midhun, 13, a Class VIII student who was electrocuted at Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam on Thursday, returned from Kuwait where she was working as a domestic help, to bid adieu to her elder son. She burst into tears even as she collapsed hugging on to her younger son Sujin and a relative who were at the airport to receive her. She was helped into the car, which sped off to Kollam. Reportedly, Suja left for Kuwait as the domestic help of an Arab family just four months ago to help her family recover from huge debts. Since she had accompanied the Arab family on a trip to Turkey, it took a while before she could be informed about the tragedy. The Arab family agreed to arrange for her flight back home for the funeral of her elder son. Aluva MLA Anwar Sadath was also present at the airport. Midhun was electrocuted while trying to retrieve a slipper that had fallen onto the roof of the bicycle shed on the school compound. He came into contact with a low-lying live electric line. Though he was rushed to a hospital, his life could not be saved.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
School HM suspended, govt promises support to family
T'puram: The headmistress of Thevalakkara Boys High School, where a 13-year-old boy was electrocuted to death, was suspended from service on Friday. General education department issued a directive to the school management to suspend headmistress Suja S in connection with the electrocution death of Class VIII student Mithun in the school on Thursday. School manager R Thulasidharan Pillai issued the suspension order. Kollam district assistant education officer, who visited the school, reported serious lapses on the part of school authorities in maintaining the safety and security of the school and its premises. Meanwhile, massive protests erupted across the state following Mithun's death, with allegations raised against various govt departments in connection with the incident. BJP workers marched to the office of electricity minister K Krishnankutty in Palakkad. Police used water cannons to disperse the protesters as they tried to break through barricades. Scuffles broke out between demonstrators and the police. Protests led by Kerala Students Union, Revolutionary Youth Front and Yuva Morcha at the Thevalakkara school also turned tense. The police forcefully removed and arrested the protesters. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Earlier, general education minister V Sivankutty on Friday said that govt would take stern action against all those responsible for Mithun's death. He said the school management must consider providing financial assistance to the family of Mithun, who was electrocuted to death after he climbed up a cycle shed to retrieve a footwear from the rooftop. Sivankutty said education department would take the initiative to build a house for Mithun's family and his brother would be exempted from paying fees up to Plus Two. Govt will provide Rs 3 lakh as emergency aid and more financial assistance will be provided to the family after consulting the CM, he added. Minister regrets comment Meanwhile, animal husbandry minister J Chinchurani visited Mithun's family on Friday. She expressed deep regret over her statement blaming the boy, who was electrocuted to death. She said it was a slip of the tongue. The minister had on Thursday blamed Mithun for his acts and had given a clean chit to the school management and teachers. She said that the boy climbed onto the sheeted roof, ignoring the warnings of his classmate. He had risked his life just for a slipper, she said. Chinchurani said, "I should have avoided the words but it was a slip of tongue." KSEB compensation Meanwhile, KSEB handed over a cheque for Rs 5 lakh to the family of Mithun on Friday. Kerala water resources minister Roshy Augustine, speaking to the media in Kozhikode, expressed sorrow over Mithun's death.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- New Indian Express
Kerala to take strict action in Thevalakkara student electrocution death case; family to get house, aid
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Department of General Education will take strong action in the incident where Midhun, a Class 8 student of Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam, allegedly died after being electrocuted on campus, said Minister V Sivankutty. The decision comes after the department received a detailed report from the Director of General Education. The minister announced a series of steps to ensure accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future. The school headmistress will be suspended with immediate effect. A show-cause notice will be issued to the school management for allegedly failing to act on safety lapses. The management has been asked to respond within three days. The Additional Educational Officer who was in charge of the school at the time will be asked to provide an explanation. Since the District Educational Officer of Kollam had retired when the academic year began, AEO Antony Peter had been given the DEO's additional charge. The department will use powers under Rule 7 of Chapter 3 of the Kerala Education Rules to take further action against the management if necessary. The minister also urged the management to seriously consider providing financial assistance to Midhun's family.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Kollam student death: Opposition leader VD Satheesan demands audit across schools in Kerala
T'puram: Opposition leader V D Satheesan slammed the state govt for not ensuring the safety of children and demanded an audit of all schools after a 13-year-old student was electrocuted at Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam. "The govt and the public education department must be prepared to audit the physical conditions in the state's schools and face an investigation," Satheesan said. "The electricity line has been running over the playground at the Thevalakkara school for years. The bicycle shed is constructed underneath it. Mithun climbed onto the roof of the bicycle shed through the classroom window to retrieve footwear. There are allegations of a delay in turning off the electricity line. How did the school receive a fitness certificate with such a dangerous electricity line passing through? Was the fitness certificate given because it is a CPM-run school? Or has the school been operating all this time without a fitness certificate? The govt, the public education department and the minister have the responsibility to answer these questions," the opposition leader said. The govt should be ready for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances that led to the student's death at the school, Satheesan said, adding that legal action should be taken against those responsible. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Is Catching Attention Among People Managing Blood Sugar bio-nutrabalance Undo "It must also be ensured that such negligence does not occur in any school in the state," he said. Satheesan said that the opposition had raised a similar demand for an audit of schools when a 10-year-old girl died from a snakebite in the classroom in Wayanad five years ago. However, the govt and the public education department were not ready to take action, he alleged. "A child lost his life due to your negligence. If children's safety cannot be ensured in schools, what is the point of having such a govt and education department?" Satheesan asked. There is severe negligence in the public education sector, in addition to the health and higher education sectors. This is the situation everywhere. There is no government here to ask or speak up, Satheesan said.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
School horror: 13-year-old dies after touching power line in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram: A 13-year-old Class VIII student of Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam was electrocuted on Thursday morning after coming into contact with a low-lying power line in the school compound. The incident happened around 9.15am. The deceased, identified as Mithun of Manu Bhavanam, Vilanthara, West Kallada, touched the power line while trying to retrieve a slipper that fell on the roof of a cycle shed adjacent to the school building during a football game. Mithun allegedly used a desk to climb onto the roof of the shed from the classroom. He slipped on the wet roof and came into contact with the live wire, police said. Mithun was rushed to Parippally Medical College Hospital, but could not be saved. Sasthamcotta police have registered a case of unnatural death under Section 194 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The boy's father, Manu, a daily-wage worker, had dropped him at school in the morning. His mother, Suja, is a housemaid in Kuwait. Residents alleged lapses on the part of KSEB and school management, claiming that the accident happened because the shed was built dangerously close to three-phase power lines running above the school ground. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo The shed was reportedly constructed eight years ago. Opposition parties staged protests against the school management, controlled by an elected committee. An effigy of general education minister V Sivankutty was also burned. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said a thorough examination would be conducted into the incident. In a statement, he said all necessary precautions would be taken to prevent such incidents in future. An inspection by the electrical inspectorate found that the overhead power lines were at a height of 4.28m, while the minimum required height is 4.6m. Construction beneath power lines is illegal, but the school management built the shed without permission, electricity minister K Krishnankutty said, adding that the lines were at "a dangerous position from the ground" and no action was taken to shift them or increase their height despite the known risk. The school management had earlier alleged that KSEB ignored the request given to shift the power lines despite several reminders. KSEB will provide an interim relief of Rs 5 lakh to the bereaved family, Krishnankutty said. He has directed the chief electrical inspector to submit an inquiry report within ten days. The director and deputy director of education visited the school and a report on the incident will be submitted soon. "Based on the report, suitable action will be initiated against the officials responsible. How did the building obtain a fitness certificate despite being in such a dangerous condition? Everything will be examined," general education minister V Sivankutty said. Minister for local self-govts M B Rajesh said lapses, if any, on the part of the local panchayat would also be examined. The body was shifted to Sasthamcotta taluk hospital mortuary after autopsy at Parippally MCH. The funeral will be held after his mother's arrival. "Suja works with a Kuwaiti family and is now in Turkey with them. We have not been able to contact her," relative Mukundan M said.
