Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS) Five girl students were killed and at least 30 others injured Thursday in a stampede in a flooded government senior secondary school in the capital. The stampede was sparked by rumours that electric current had leaked into the water that had flooded the school, police said.
The injured students have been admitted to the Guru Tegh Bahadur (GTB) Hospital where the condition five is stated to be serious.

The incident took place in a government-run school in Khajuri Khas in northeast Delhi in the morning.

The heavy rain from last evening had left the school premises flooded and when the children were inside a rumour went around that the ankle-deep water on the ground floor was charged with electricity. The children panicked and started running helter skelter, leading to a stampede on a staircase, a police official said.

Confirming the number of dead and injured, Joint Commissioner of Police Dharmendra Kumar said the injured have been admitted to the GTB Hospital.

J.P. Kapoor, head of the casualty department at the GTB hospital, told IANS: “It is a difficult situation; we are busy attending to the patients.”

Hospital authorities said at least five of the injured students are in a “serious condition”.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit visited the hospital and expressed regret over the tragedy.

“An enquiry will be held and action taken against those responsible,” she told reporters. The enquiry will be held by the local deputy commissioner. Dikshit announced payment of Rs.100,000 tro the next-of-kin of those killed and Rs.50,000 to those seriously injured.

Though no official from the school administration was available for comment, relatives of the students and local residents gathered in front of the school to protest the “negligence on the part of administration”.

They pelted stones, shouted slogans and tried to block the road in front of the school.

According to Delhi Police, extra forces have been sent to the school area and the GTB hospital.