Class I Student in Water Tank, Senior Jumped in, Teachers watched

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Feb 06, 2016:  On the same Saturday that six-year-old Divyansh Kakora was found dead in a water tank, the teachers and other staff at Ryan International School risked the life of another student, 16 year old Prajwal Sehrawat of Class XI, who jumped in to pull out the body of young Divyansh.

The school’s "gross criminal negligence" and "deliberate inaction" have been listed in chilling detail in an inquiry ordered by the Delhi government of Arvind Kejriwal.

The school’s principal Sandhya Sabu is among five staff members of the school arrested by the police. They got bail earlier this week.

Divyansh’s parents want a CBI investigation. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has promised severe penalties against the school and pledged to a city wide safety inspection of all other schools.

January 30 was a school holiday but Ryan International School had organised a poetry contest for which the Class I student had gone to school. Divyansh was found hours later in a water tank located below the school’s amphitheatre.

The report of a Delhi magistrate says, "(The) Class teacher failed to notice absence of the student for hours. She could not even figure out the proper time of missing child."
Divyansh had wandered into what should have been a no-go zone for students. The report describes it as a dangerous area. "Also with open wires hanging around there is a propensity of water electrification which might have proved hazardous to the senior student as well," it said.

It was hours later that Divyansh was found floating in the water by the school staff. At this time Prajwal dove into the tank and pulled out the younger student.

The report found, "When body of the Devansh was spotted, none of the school authorities responded.  Swimming coach, teachers, games instructor, gardeners were available but none responded. In absence of the XI class student, possible, body of the child could not have been rescued."