Girl dies after being bitten by a snake under classroom premises, teacher continued with the class

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

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

A classmate claimed
that the teacher continued with the class, saying the child’s father will take
her to hospital. By then the girl’s leg had turned blue, she said.

The incident
took place 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. Shahnawaz, a
relative of the child, alleged that there was negligence  on the part of the school and a hospital where
she was first taken.

The child
was later referred to the Kozhikode Medical college.

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.

The
Additional district magistrate has been asked to visit the school, she said. A
deputy director, who came to the school, inspected the classroom Thursday
morning.

Education
minister C Raveendranath has sought a report on the matter.