HYDERABAD: A six-year-old boy tragically lost his life on Monday evening when the main gate of his school collapsed on him as he was returning home. The incident occurred at the Government Zilla Parishad High School in Hayathnagar, on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Alakanti Ajay, a Class 1 student, was severely injured when the heavy gate fell on him, resulting in fatal head injuries.
According to police officers, the incident took place as Ajay and other children were leaving the school campus. As they passed through the gate, several of the children began swinging on it, causing the seven-foot-high metallic gate’s hinges to come loose. While most of the children managed to escape, the gate fell directly on Ajay’s head. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital and later transferred to Vanasthalipuram Area Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries late that night.
Ajay’s parents work as garbage collection workers for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Following the tragic accident, Ajay’s father, Chandu, filed a complaint against the school authorities, leading to a police case under Section 194 of the BNSS (inquiry into suspicious death). Hayathnagar police have launched an investigation into the incident.
The accident has sparked outrage in the local community, with family members, relatives, and residents protesting outside the school on Tuesday. They have accused the school authorities of negligence, citing the lack of proper maintenance and the recent installation of the heavy gate. “This gate was apparently erected only a few months ago, and it should have been properly secured. This could have been prevented if proper safety measures were taken,” a local resident said.
The district education department and police held a meeting with the grieving family and protesters, assuring them that strict action would be taken against those responsible for the poor quality of work related to the gate’s installation.
Police officials stated that while the children were leaving the school after hours, the gate’s hinges broke, causing it to collapse. The school authorities immediately took Ajay to a private hospital, but despite efforts to save him, he passed away from his injuries.
The body has been sent to Osmania General Hospital for a post-mortem examination, and further investigations are underway. The school has come under scrutiny for its apparent lack of proper safety measures, with the community demanding justice for the young boy’s tragic death.
