Thaindian News

Meerut (Uttar Pradesh), April 20 (IANS) Several students in a prominent Uttar Pradesh school Wednesday fainted and many became sick after they were forced to stand in the sun as a punishment. The authorities have ordered an enquiry against the school management.

Around 70 students, both boys and girls, of St. Thomas School here were asked by the school authorities to stand in the sun for over an hour as a punishment for not attending the morning assembly, according to parents.

The students were mostly from Class 11.

“While four-five students fainted and fell to the ground, several others started vomiting. It was then that the school administration ended the punishment and gave medicines to them,” a girl student told reporters in Meerut, some 450 km from Lucknow.

Parents and guardians demonstrated inside the school premises after they learnt about the incident.

“My niece fainted during the punishment. The school authorities did not bother to inform the family. Strict action must be taken against the teachers and the officials,” Anil Goel, a guardian, said.

The school’s principal, S. Mohan, claimed that a teacher was directed to move the students into the shade after they were found standing in the sun.

“I asked the physical training teacher to line up the students in the shade near the assembly place meant for students of lower classes,” Mohan told reporters.

District Inspector of School Ramakant Yadav said an enquiry has been ordered against the school administration following reports on the incident on local TV channels.