KARUR: A student of class IX is battling for survival after a prank played by a senior student at a science exhibition turned almost fatal, raising questions about monitoring mechanisms put in place during such events.
According to sources, a science exhibition was organised at the Government Higher Secondary School in Tunavasipatti on October 18, 2016. Among those who visited the event were E Gokul, a Class IX student, and a Class X student both of who hail from Mathipatti village. As the two were going around, the senior student offered Gokul a drink saying it was 'sugar solution'.
Within minutes of drinking it, Gokul swooned and collapsed on the floor. Panic-stricken, school teachers rushed him to a nearby hospital, which referred him to a private hospital in Tiruchy. It emerged that Gokul drank a solution of baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate), which caused extensive damage to his food pipe.
According to doctors, the food pipe has contracted due to infection. After two weeks of treatment, Gokul was discharged and the hospital informed his parents that he would need intensive treatment after the initial wounds have healed. The hitch is that the cost of the corrective is prohibitive and Gokul's parents are daily wage labourers employed in a stone quarry.
Gokul returned to school but because of the damage suffered, he kept fainting and throwing up frequently following which the school management sent him home with the assurance that he can avail as much leave as necessary.
Worried about their son's deteriorating condition, Gokul's parents admitted him in the SRM hospital here where he is currently undergoing treatment. Recalling the incident, Gokul's mother said, "My son is unable to recover from the illness after consuming the baking soda solution. The school should have monitored children carefully that day, which could have prevented such an accident”.
Sakthivel, headmaster of the school, acknowledged that such an incident has taken place and pointed out that officials took Gokul to the hospital and provided him with first aid. Further, he added that teachers had contributed from their pockets to pay for Gokul's initial stay in the hospital.
When contacted, Chief Education Officer of Karur M Ramasamy, however, said Gokul's condition was brought to his notice only now and that he would initiate action after conducting an enquiry.