A class 7 student died after swallowing a pin from a notice board at his school in Odisha’s Kandhamal district. His family have accused teachers at the school of not taking the matter seriously at first, and delaying his hospitalisation.
The incident occurred on October 15. The school headmaster has denied allegations of any negligence and said an investigation into the matter would reveal all the details. Police are looking into it, but have not yet registered a case.
According to the family members of the student, he lived at his maternal uncle’s house. “After accidentally swallowing the pin, his friends informed the teachers about the incident, but they didn’t take it seriously. Had he been taken to the hospital in time, he would have been alive,” said his father.
The student returned to his uncle’s house from school on the day of the incident and complained of severe pain, his family said. He then told his grandfather what happened, after which he was taken to the hospital. An X-ray showed that he had a pin stuck in his lungs.
The family subsequently took him to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar and then Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack. Though doctors removed the pin through surgery, it was too late for the student, who went into a coma and died on October 26 while undergoing treatment.
The incident came to the fore after the father of the boy lodged a police complaint a day after his son’s death.
Police said they verified the incident with the school authorities and sought the CCTV footage. However, they are yet to register a case in this regard, officers said.
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The student’s parents have urged the district administration to order a thorough investigation into the matter.
