A serious case of alleged negligence at a government-run residential school in Odisha's Nabarangpur district has reached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The complaint follows a horrific incident where a Class 7 student sustained critical burn injuries from a pressure cooker explosion in the school kitchen.
Details of the Incident and Alleged Negligence
According to the complaint filed by Jeypore-based human rights activist and advocate Anup Kumar Patro, the accident occurred on November 20. The victim, a hostel boarder at a government school in the Kosagumuda block, was severely injured when a pressure cooker burst while dal was being cooked. Boiling hot dal splashed onto the boy's face, causing serious burns.
Patro's complaint to the NHRC, registered on Monday, accuses the school authorities of gross negligence. Shockingly, instead of rushing the critically injured child to a hospital, the hostel staff reportedly only applied some ointment and told him to rest. The situation took a more disturbing turn as the incident was allegedly suppressed for nine days.
Suppression of Facts and Eventual Intervention
The student was confined to the hostel dormitory until November 29 without proper medical care, and his family was not informed about his condition. The matter came to light only after vigilant villagers questioned the school administration's unusual silence regarding the boy's absence and condition.
Facing public backlash, the district administration finally intervened. The Nabarangpur District Magistrate took charge of the situation and arranged for the boy's immediate transfer to the district headquarters hospital. The victim is currently receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), underscoring the severity of his injuries.
Activist's Demands and Call for Accountability
In his plea to the NHRC, advocate Anup Kumar Patro has urged the commission to direct the state's Chief Secretary to initiate a detailed and impartial inquiry into the entire episode. He has demanded that responsibility be fixed on the negligent officials and that the victim's family receives adequate financial compensation for the trauma and medical expenses.
This case highlights critical lapses in safety protocols and duty of care within a government residential institution, raising urgent questions about the welfare of students in such facilities.
