Hostel Warden Sacked, Suspension Of Headmistress Recommended Over Death Of Girl Student In Odisha School

Baripada: The hostel warden of a government school in Khunta area of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district was disengaged from service on Sunday following the death of a girl student.

Sources said that the action against the warden of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya came after the death of the class VI student at the school hostel on Saturday triggered tension in the area amid protest by locals.

The District Education Officer (DEO) has also recommended the suspension of the headmistress of the residential school.

In a letter, the DEO has recommended the suspension of school headmistress Gayatri Sethi, while hostel warden Minati Mohapatra was disengaged from service on charges of dereliction of duty.

It was stated that the headmistress failed to perform her duty properly and due to lack of proper supervision and immediate steps, such a major incident happened in the hostel. The DEO recommended necessary steps including suspension order against Gayatri Sethi, sources said.

The action came after the family members of the deceased girl student, Madhusmita Behera, and locals staged a road blockade on the State Highway at Khunta demanding adequate compensation and action against the erring officials.

As per sources, the class VI student residing in the hostel of the school suddenly fell sick on Saturday night.

She was rushed to Khunta hospital where the doctor declared her dead. The circumstances that led to her death are yet to be ascertained.