CHENNAI: Parents of a Class II student were on a frantic search for their son after his class teacher inadvertently locked him inside the class and left for home. The child, who had health complications, was rescued after some boys in the neighbourhood happened to notice him knocking on the door from inside.
The boy, V John, had joined Polichalur Adi Dravidar School this August, as private schools in the vicinity refused admission due to his medical condition, including wheezing. School authorities said he often slept in classes because of his illness.
On Thursday, he slept in one of the low-level slabs inside the classroom. Without noticing this, his class teacher Dhanalakshmi locked the room from outside at 4 pm. When he woke up, he cried for help, but nobody could hear him as earth movers were operating on the school campus to construct a new toilet block.
As her son failed to reach home at 4.30 pm as usual, V Muthulakshmi went in search with neighbours.
Meanwhile, four youth entered the school to see what construction was coming up. One among them, K Ashok, noticed the classroom lock bouncing and checked it. They then broke open a window so that the boy could get some fresh air. The word spread in the neighbourhood and also to the parents, who rushed to the school. They broke open the door and boy was finally out after a two-and-a-half hour ordeal.
Public sought action against the school for alleged negligence. Government officials assured that action would be taken if the mistake was on the part of the school authorities.