10-year-old girl dies after snake bites her inside a Kerala school classroom

AM Abdussalam, Staff Reporter

A young schoolgirl bitten by a snake inside her class room during school hours at Sulthan Bathery in Kerala's Wayanad district died at Kozhikode Medical College hospital on Wednesday.

Shahla Sherin, 10, was bitten by the snake from the classroom at Bathery Government Sarvajana Vocational Higher Secondary School here and died at the hospital on Wednesday.

The class-5 student was sitting in her class when the snake surfaced from a hole in the classroom and bit her and quickly disappeared. According to the school headmaster, by around 4.09 pm, the girl was brought to the local hospital.

Soon she started vomiting and then she was taken to the Kozhikode Medical College hospital. The child had died before reaching the hospital, and the symptoms were that of snakebite, said Dr Jackson Thomas who attended to the girl.

Students and parents alleged laxity on the part of teachers in not taking swift action to save the life of the girl. The hospital authorities could not diagnose that it was a snake bite, even though the girl's foot spotted marks and her leg developed a discolouration.

According to irate parents, there are plenty of holes and cracks conducive for reptiles inside the classroom of the school where Shehla was studying. The school authorities had failed to carry out fitness inspections that were mandatory before the academic year begins.

A teacher at the school was suspended following the incident. Wayanad Deputy Director of Education (DDE) Ibrahim Thonikkara suspended Shijil, the teacher who was named by students in their complaint.

The children said that despite teachers having cars, they did not take Shehla to the hospital and waited for her father to arrive. Shehla herself had said that she was bitten by a snake.

Wayanad District Collector Adeela Abdulla said that she has sought a report from the DDE and further action will be taken once the report is available. Minister of Education, C. Raveendranath too directed the DDE officials to submit a report.

Muslim Students Federation (MSF) protested outside the DDE's office. In a protest march conducted by the students and the villagers against the negligence of the school authorities, there were some incidents of violence.

The school's gate, doors and staff room were damaged. Some of the teachers were also manhandled. The police have reached the school to prevent further deterioration of law and order situation.