COIMBATORE: A Nalla Gounder and Sivagami are in a state of shock. Tears well up in their eyes at the mention of their daughter, who died in a freak mishap at a college during an unauthorized mock drill. As much as the grief over the untimely death of their 19-year-old, the callousness of the institution to go ahead with a risky programme without their consent pricks them.
The couple had invested their all in educating Logeshwari after they had pulled their son out of school to augment the family’s slim financial resources. Farmers from Nathaegoundanpudur in the district’s hinterland, the couple were determined to make Logeswari the first graduate of the family.
“She wanted to study higher and carve a niche for her. However, the college management’s negligence snuffed out her life,” Nalla Gounder said. “We came to know about the accident through the father of Logeswari’s classmate. Though we rushed to the hospital around 5.30 pm, we were not able to see her face,” he added.
Sivagami is yet to come to terms with the loss. She believes that she could have stopped Logeswari from going to college had she told her about the drill. “All she told me was there was a test. Had I known that the college was going to put my daughter’s life at risk, I would never have allowed her to go to the college. I still do not understand why the trainer persisted in making her jump?” she asked.