The district administration on Thursday began a probe into a bizarre accident at Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Silli, around 60km from here, that led to the death of a Class VII student.
Twelve-year-old Bhumika Tigga received burns on her face and body when a pot of boiling milk fell on her on October 28 afternoon. She lost her battle for life at RIMS on Wednesday amid speculation that the mishap was the result of gross negligence on part of the management of the Centre-sponsored residential cradle for girls.
The inquiry team, headed by district superintendent of education (DSE) C. Vijay Singh, is expected to submit a report to the state school education and literacy department in the next 48 hours.
According DSE Singh, the Silli school with 640 students on its rolls has two kitchens that rustle up meals for boarders every day.
Around 12.30pm on Sunday, a group of 10-12 girls entered one of the kitchens unmonitored. They tried to serve themselves food apparently because the kitchen staff or hostel officials were not around.
As they jostled for food, DSE Singh said, Bhumika lost balance. To avoid falling down with her plate, the student instinctively grabbed a large pot of boiling milk nearby. The pot overturned and the 20 litres of milk fell on her and another student, ninth grader Anamika Kumari.
Sources in Silli said hostel warden Ragini Kumari was on leave on Sunday. Teacher Parmeshwari Kumari and others took the students the primary health centre, from where they were sent to RIMS in Bariatu the same day.
Doctors at the state-run hospital said Bhumika received 35 per cent burns. “Her face, neck and abdominal area were badly charred. We tried our best, but couldn’t save her. The other girl (Anamika) is still undergoing treatment,” said a doctor.
“Survival chances of patients with more than 30 per cent burns is slim owing to water loss, electrolyte imbalance, haemodynamic decomposition and infection,” explained RIMS superintendent Dr Vivek Kashyap.
Sources said Bhumika was a native of Saporam village in Nagri block of Ranchi. Her father, Ujjwal Anand Tigga, had died several years ago while her mother, Ashanidhi Tigga, has been traceless for the past few years.
DSE Singh said the probe team spoke to other boarders, teachers and kitchen staff. “The report is being compiled. It will be submitted to the deputy commissioner (who will forward it to the government) very soon,” he added.
Another member of the team said the floor of the kitchen was not slippery. “But, meals were being cooked on both LPG and firewood ovens. The milk was boiling on a chulha (firewood oven) when Bhumika and Anamika met with the accident.”
Principal secretary, school education and literacy mission, A.P. Singh said appropriate action would be taken against those guilty of neglect, if any, once the probe report was submitted.