The death of a 10-year-old girl from a government school in East Delhi’s Vinod Nagar has triggered concerns over student safety and prompted the Delhi government to order an inquiry.
The girl’s family alleged that she became unwell after being punished at school for forgetting to bring a book. However, doctors at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences said she had been suffering from a serious neurological disorder and had been receiving treatment for several months.
Family Alleges Punishment at School
According to the girl’s family, she left her home in Kalyanpuri at around 7am on July 22.
At about 9.30am, her class teacher reportedly contacted the family and asked them to bring a change of clothes after the girl soiled her school uniform. A few minutes later, the teacher allegedly asked the family to take the child home.
Her grandparents went to the school and found her unconscious in an open area, the family said.
Girl Allegedly Made to Stand With Hands Raised
After regaining consciousness, the girl allegedly told her grandparents that she had forgotten to bring a book and had been scolded by her teacher.
According to the family, she said she was made to stand at the back of the classroom with her hand raised as punishment.
The family further alleged that after the other students and teacher left, the girl was locked inside the classroom. She reportedly told her grandparents that she knocked on the door and asked to be let out before the teacher eventually opened it and found her collapsed.
Girl Taken to Hospital
The girl reportedly collapsed again after recounting what had happened.
Her family took her to Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital, following which she was referred to IHBAS for further treatment.
The family said she had previously been diagnosed with a neurological condition and was already undergoing treatment.
Hospital Gives Different Medical Details
IHBAS officials provided a different medical explanation for the girl’s death.
According to the hospital, she had been receiving treatment for subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) for around six months following consultation at AIIMS.
SSPE is a rare, progressive brain disorder associated with persistent measles virus infection and is almost always fatal. Hospital officials said the girl’s condition deteriorated and she died on August 27.
Delhi Government Orders Inquiry
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood announced that an impartial inquiry had been ordered into the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death.
The concerned teacher has been transferred with immediate effect to ensure that the investigation can proceed fairly.
Sood said that if the inquiry establishes negligence, dereliction of duty or any other lapse, strict and appropriate action will be taken.
Family Protests Outside School
The girl’s family staged a protest outside the school on Monday, demanding answers about the alleged punishment and the circumstances in which she became unconscious.
The family is seeking accountability and wants the authorities to establish what happened at the school before the girl’s health deteriorated.
The conflicting accounts surrounding the incident have made the government inquiry particularly significant.
Medical Rooms Planned in Government Schools
Following the incident, the Delhi government also announced a pilot project to establish dedicated medical rooms in 100 government schools.
The facilities are expected to provide first aid, basic health support and counselling services.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the initiative could later be expanded to 1,086 government schools depending on the outcome of the pilot programme. The government has allocated ₹5 crore for the first phase.
Key Question Remains Under Investigation
The case has raised questions about what happened to the girl at the school and whether the alleged punishment had any connection with her subsequent health deterioration.
At the same time, the medical history provided by IHBAS indicates that she had been suffering from a serious neurological condition for several months.
The government inquiry is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the school incident and determine whether there was any negligence or lapse in handling the child.
Conclusion
The death of the 10-year-old girl in Delhi has raised serious concerns after her family alleged that she was punished at school for forgetting to bring a book and later collapsed.
However, IHBAS officials said the girl had been undergoing treatment for SSPE, a rare and almost always fatal neurological disorder, and that her condition eventually deteriorated.
The Delhi government has ordered an impartial inquiry to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. The concerned teacher has been transferred pending the investigation, and the government has said strict action will follow if negligence or any other lapse is established.
