PRAYAGRAJ: It may sound astonishing, but the harsh truth is that the school gate whose collapse claimed the life of six-year-old Eshu in Chakia Dhamour village, Baharia, could have been secured with just two simple locks.
There was no need for anyone to spend a single rupee from their pocket, as the school’s composite fund had ₹75,000 available for such essential maintenance.
The school, which sees hundreds of children coming and going every day, failed to address this critical safety issue. Those in charge appeared concerned only with saving budget, rather than ensuring the safety and well-being of students.
Due to the gross negligence of the school administration and the lack of proactive oversight by local authorities, a once joyful and playful six-year-old is no longer with us. This is far from an ordinary accident; it is a preventable tragedy that highlights systemic failures in prioritizing children’s safety.
Even though the District Magistrate has confirmed that an FIR has been filed against the headmaster and the school secretary has been suspended, such actions alone cannot absolve those responsible. The loss of Eshu is a stark reminder of the cost of administrative indifference and poor governance.
Protests and Demands for Justice
On Thursday, led by Mukund Tiwari, Congress State General Secretary, party members submitted a memorandum to District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma, demanding a high-level investigation into the incident.
The memorandum emphasized that those responsible must be punished promptly and that justice should be delivered to the bereaved family. Present at the submission were leaders, including Virendra Yadav, Ajit Kumar, Dayanidhan Pandey, Santosh Bhartiya, Amar Patel, and Afroze Ahmad.
Family Grief and Lingering Questions
The tragedy has left Eshu’s family in deep shock. Even 48 hours after the incident, the family remains speechless, their grief raising haunting questions:
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Why did the school gate collapse?
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Was there no one responsible for ensuring its safety?
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Why wasn’t a small fundraising initiative arranged for a gate that could have prevented such a disaster?
Outside the child’s home, the mother, Kanti Devi, could be heard weeping inconsolably, while the father, Manoj, remained in silent despair. Every member of the family instinctively looks at the gate, as if expecting Eshu to come running through it once more, their hope instantly shattered by the realization that he will never return.
Negligence and Mismanagement
The gate required just one-and-a-half locks to be installed — a negligible expense that could have been easily covered from the school’s composite fund, which had ₹75,000 available.
Despite the school being visited daily by hundreds of children, no attention was given to this vital safety concern, and budgetary considerations appear to have taken precedence over children’s safety.
District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma confirmed that immediate action has been taken: the headmaster has been suspended, and the school secretary has also been removed from duty. He assured that further measures will be taken as more information emerges.
Verma remarked, “This is undoubtedly a very tragic incident. The headmaster and secretary have been suspended for their negligence. As we receive additional information, further actions will be taken.”
However, critics argue that suspension alone cannot absolve the responsible parties, especially when such lapses have led to the loss of an innocent life.
A Preventable Tragedy
The incident underscores a broader issue of infrastructure neglect in schools, particularly in rural areas. When governments allocate substantial budgets for even minor arrangements, it is unacceptable that basic safety measures — such as a simple lock for a school gate — are overlooked.
Six-year-old Eshu’s death is not just a local tragedy; it is a wake-up call for administrators, school authorities, and communities to prioritize the safety of children above all else.
The tragic death has prompted calls for stricter enforcement of safety protocols, regular inspections, and accountability measures to ensure such preventable incidents never recur.
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