This is an archive article published on November 22, 2023
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Class 4 boy made to do sit-ups in Odisha school dies, probe on
The student was immediately taken to a nearby hospital and from there to a community health centre. He was later taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where the doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The ten-year-old student collapsed and died while allegedly facing sit-ups as punishment from a teacher. (File)
A class four student of a state-run upper primary school in Odisha’s Jajpur district died after he was allegedly made to do sit-ups by a teacher Tuesday. The incident occurred at Suryanarayan Nodal Upper Primary School, Orali under Kuakhia police limits in Jajpur district. The deceased is 10-year-old Rudra Narayan Sethy.
According to Rudra’s classmates, the teacher found him and a few other students playing on during class hours around 3 pm. “After the students went to the classrooms, the teacher asked them some question, which Rudra could not answer. The teacher then told him to kneel down. Then the teacher asked the kid to do sit-ups. He collapsed after doing three to four sit-ups,” said one of Rudra’s classmates.
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The student was immediately taken to a nearby hospital and from there to a community health centre. He was later taken to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, where the doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The school’s head teacher Pramila Panda said she was not present when the incident happened. “I rushed to the classroom when some students told me about the incident. Then I informed his father and arranged an auto to rush the student to a nearby health centre,” Panda said. Panda said the deceased’s parents had never informed about any health condition Rudra may have had.
Panda said Rudra could not play outdoor games for a longtime and loved to play indoor games. Rasulpur assistant block education officer Prabhanjan Pati visited the school and recorded statements of Rudra’s classmates, teachers, school committee members as well as villagers.
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“The kid was unwell and told his friends about chest pain. According to his class teacher, he made many students do sit-ups for not carrying notebooks. The deceased student collapsed after doing two sit-ups. He was rushed to the hospital, where his father was present,” Pati told reporters. Speaking to The Indian Express, Rasulpur block education officer Nilambar Mishra said parents have not filed any formal complaints so far. Mishra said the ABEO will submit inquiry report Thursday. Jajpur collector Chakravarti Singh Rathore said he has ordered an inquiry.
The ten-year-old student collapsed and died while allegedly facing sit-ups as punishment from a teacher. (File) 
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