JOIN USSchool mishap victim recovering at hospital
Ranjitha, the class six student of Government Higher Primary School for Girls in the city, who has been admitted to a hospital here, following the near fatal incident on the eve of Independence Day, is said to be responding to treatment.
She was found hanging from a 15-foot-high flag post, on Thursday, when her neck got entangled in the rope she was trying to tie to the flag post, at her school.
According to sources at Vikram Jeev Hospital, where the girl is being treated at the ICU, she has been off ventilator support from 12.30 pm onwards on Friday. The 12-year-old girl was brought to the hospital in an unconscious state. She was suspected to have sustained spinal chord injuries, but doctors have ruled it out now.
‘Parents restricted’
Her parents, Naga and Anasuya, who have been camping in front of the hospital at Yadavagiri in the city since Thursday, were allowed to see their ward in intervals.
“I became hopeful only after she opened her eyes this morning. But still, I have doubts about her survival,” said a teary-eyed Naga.
The V V Mohalla police have booked a case under IPC Section 338 (negligence) against the two teachers of the school. In-charge headmistress Priscilla Rodrigues and teacher Komala have been booked as prime accused and co-accused, respectively. Ranjitha was made to ascend a human pyramid, and then attach the rope to the flag post, for Friday’s unfurling of the tricolour.
‘Expertise in climbing’
Ranjitha, a Soliga from Jayapura hobli in Mysore taluk, is said to have been chosen for the task, given her expertise in climbing.
School authorities are, however, claiming that Ranjitha herself volunteered to do the task. The school has 24 students from class five to seven.
“The girl should not have been made to do the task. But, the school authorities were forced to seek her assistance owing to staff crunch,” said Deputy Director for Public Instruction H R Basappa