Boy falls dead after running 11 rounds

The student,Pawnish Pawar,17,had reportedly complained of stomach ache and breathlessness,but his sports teacher

refused to let him stop until he had completed the full course.

The run was part of the practical examination for physical education for Class XII,and all students who had opted for the course were made to take the test.

Pawnish had recently cleared the written examination for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and was preparing for the physical fitness tests,said members of his family.

The boy’s parents have alleged he was not taken to hospital immediately after he complained he was feeling unwell. They said Pawnish fainted in the playground.

Father Ravindra Pal,a property dealer,said that Pawnish had complained of stomach ache and breathlessness just as he finished his warm-up session.

Ignoring his condition,the school’s physical training instructor,Shailendra Rathi,allegedly asked Pawnish to run around the playground,like other students.

“After completing eight rounds,he complained to the instructor that he was not feeling well. The instructor thought he was making excuses and that he wanted to avoid running the full course. In the eleventh round,the boy collapsed in the field. Other students picked him up and informed the teachers.

Another physical training instructor,Narendra Kumar,was also present in the field,” said R K Saini,Station House Officer at the Modinagar police station.

“My son was kept in the school for at least half an hour after he collapsed. He was taken to Jeevan hospital only around 11.30 am. The hospital declared him dead on arrival. Pawnish died because of negligence the on part of the school authorities,” said Pal.

Angry parents and local residents protested against the school.

The police have detained principal Nirmal Dubey,Narendra Kumar and Shailendra Rathi,present when the incident took place.

“We’re awaiting the postmortem report to know the exact cause of the death. We will file a case under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code against the detained persons,” said a police officer. The family lives Nand Nagri,Modinagar,Ghaziabad.