Child Dies Post Snakebite in Class, Kerala CM Vows Strict Action

Ten-year-old Shehala Sherin died after being bitten by a snake inside her classroom at Sultan Bathery in Wayanad.

10-year-old Shehala Sherin died after being bitten by a snake inside her classroom at Sultan Bathery in Wayanad.

(Photo: ANI/ Altered by The Quint)

The State Human Rights Commission in Kerala has ordered an investigation into the death of 10-year-old Shehla Sherin, who died on Wednesday after a snake bit her at her school in Sulthan Bathery, in Wayanad district of Kerala.

Earlier, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday, 21 November, said that strict action would be taken in the matter.

A 10-year-old girl died after being bitten by a snake inside her classroom at Sultan Bathery in Wayanad district, police said on Thursday.

“Strict action will be taken against those responsible for the lapses that resulted in the death of the fifth standard girl due to snake bite, in Wayanad,” Vijayan said, according to ANI.

Kerala Health Min KK Shailaja ordered an inquiry into the death of the girl and also ordered suspension of the doctor who attended and treated her at Bathery Taluk Hospital, ANI reported.

Rahul Gandhi Writes to CM

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday had written to the Kerala Chief Minister on the death of the schoolgirl, stating that the school's "crumbling infrastructure" needed urgent attention of the state government, PTI reported.

The snake was hiding inside a burrow of the classroom wall before it bit Shehala Sherin, a Class V student of the Sarvajana Higher Secondary School in Sulthan Bathery.

“One of the oldest high schools in Sulthan Bathery, Sarvajana Higher Secondary School’s crumbling infrastructure requires the urgent attention of the state government. The absence of a conducive learning environment demoralises students and parents alike,” Gandhi said in the letter.

Lapse on Part of School

The fifth standard student, Shehala, was taken to the hospital only an hour after the incident, students of the government vocational higher secondary school alleged.

A classmate alleged that the teacher continued with the class, saying that the child's father will take her to hospital.

By then, the girl's leg had turned blue, she said. The incident occurred on Wednesday.

Television channels aired visuals of the classroom with a hole beneath the desk where the child was seated. A teacher has been suspended, pending inquiry, government sources said, according to PTI.

Shahnawaz, a relative of the child, alleged that there was lapse on the part of the school and the hospital where she was first taken.

The child was later referred to the Kozhikode Medical college.

‘Most Unfortunate’ Incident

Wayanad District Collector Adeela Abdulla termed the incident as "most unfortunate" and said action will be taken against those responsible.

An education department official has been asked to submit report on the allegation of delayed medical assistance to the child, PTI reported.

The additional district magistrate has been asked to visit the school, she said.

A deputy director, who came to the school, inspected the classroom on Thursday morning. Education Minister C Raveendranath has sought a report on the matter.

Meanwhile, angry local people and relatives barged into the staff room and tried to attack the teachers present, but were dissuaded by police personnel who were maintaining tight vigil at the school.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)