Bhubaneswar: A day after four students of an upgraded high school at Paikadakuluguda in Rayagada district sustained severe burns in a fire incident, the Odisha government on Tuesday issued notices to the school’s headmaster and four teachers.
Sources said the School and Mass Education department has also decided to stop the salaries of four teachers, and the headmaster following the disturbing incident that took place on Monday.
The department reportedly stated that further action would be decided after completion of an official inquiry.
Following the incident, parents of the injured students along with locals went to the school and sought to know the circumstances under which the four students sustained
burn injuries on the school premises.
As tension prevailed in the school and surrounding areas, a police team rushed to the spot and pacified the agitated parents and locals, assuring them of stringent action in the case.
The school headmaster had earlier lodged a complaint at the Muniguda police station regarding the incident.
Police later met the injured students at the hospital and recorded their statements. A case has been registered against the peon’s son, police sources said.
Of the four injured students, the condition of Biraja Takri is stated to be critical. He has been referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for advanced treatment.
As per preliminary findings, the incident took place after a classmate of the four students allegedly threw colour thinner onto a nearby fire.
As per police sources, some students discovered thinner stored in the school building. They poured it onto the rooftop and set it alight with a matchstick. The fire ignited immediately and spread quickly when additional thinner accidentally fell into it. As a result, four students sustained burn injuries.