Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 15: Hours after a Class 3 student died in a tragic incident at a government school in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Children’s Day, a teacher was placed under suspension, and an inquiry was ordered by the higher authorities.
The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has placed a teacher under suspension following the death of a Class 3 student on the school premises in Kupwara district.
As per the order, S. Shahida Akhter, Teacher (Head of Institution), Upper Primary School Bandpora, Zone Drugmulla, Kupwara, has been placed under suspension with immediate effect, pending an inquiry into the tragic incident.
During the period of suspension, she shall remain attached to the office of the Chief Education Officer, Kupwara.
The Directorate has also appointed Hakeem Tanveer Ahmad (JKAS), Joint Director-North, as the Inquiry Officer to conduct a detailed inquiry into the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.
The Inquiry Officer has been directed to submit his report within three days.
On the occasion of Children’s Day, a nine-year-old girl lost her life after a school fence collapsed at Upper Primary School Janbazpora Bandpora in the Drugmulla area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Saturday afternoon.
The deceased, identified as Ghaziya Parvaiz, daughter of Parvaiz Ahmad Najar and a resident of Najar Mohalla, Drugmulla, was a Class 3 student. She sustained critical injuries, including severe head trauma, in the incident. She was rushed to Sub-District Hospital (SDH), Kupwara, where doctors declared her brought dead.
The incident has triggered widespread grief in the locality, with residents questioning the alleged failure of the concerned authorities to address the deteriorating condition of the school despite repeated complaints.
The resident questioned what they described as the disparity in accountability, alleging that government schools are frequently allowed to function in deteriorating conditions without facing the same degree of scrutiny or corrective action.
Meanwhile, Tehsildar Drugmulla Syed Basharat Ahmad, accompanied by other officials, and the Chief Education Officer (CEO), Kupwara, visited the site to inspect the premises and ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
However, residents maintained that such inspections should have been conducted proactively, arguing that timely intervention could possibly have averted the tragedy.
The funeral prayers of Ghaziya were attended later in the evening by people from far and wide, who gathered to pay their last respects to the young girl. Her mortal remains were laid to rest amid sobs and tears as the bereaved family and the entire locality mourned her untimely demise.
Meanwhile, the District Administration Kupwara expressed profound grief over the tragic death of the Class 3 girl student at Middle School Janbazpora, Drugmulla.
Taking immediate cognisance of the incident, the administration constituted a four-member inquiry committee headed by the Assistant Commissioner (Revenue), Kupwara, to investigate the lapses, fix responsibility and submit a factual report within seven days.
Simultaneously, a formal show-cause notice was served upon the Chief Education Officer, Kupwara, directing the officer to submit a written explanation within two working days regarding non-compliance with the Deputy Commissioner’s earlier directions on mandatory school safety audits.
The District Administration reiterated that the safety of children was non-negotiable and that no negligence would be tolerated. It further warned that strict action would be taken under law against those found responsible. |
