Class X Student Drowns in Pond During District Athletic Meet in Khordha ;

PET suspended; suspension recommended for headmaster, District Physical Education Officer served show-cause notice

Dillip Kumar Pattnaik

KHORDHA, SEPTEMBER 29: A Class X student of an Adarsha Vidyalaya in Bali Patna died after allegedly drowning in a pond near the venue of the Khordha District Athletic Meet at Narangarh under Jankia police station limits on Monday. The tragic incident has triggered grief and anger, with the deceased student’s family members holding the school authorities responsible for alleged lapses in supervision and safety arrangements.
The deceased has been identified as Arnab Sahu, a Class X student of Bali Patna Adarsha Vidyalaya. Following the incident, the District Education Department initiated disciplinary action against officials concerned. The Physical Education Teacher (PET) of Bali Patna Adarsha Vidyalaya, Sunil Panda, has been suspended by the District Education Officer (DEO). A recommendation has also been sent to the School and Mass Education Department for the suspension of Vijay Pratap Mishra, headmaster of PM SHRI Chintamani Vidyalaya at Narangarh. In addition, District Physical Education Officer Dilip Kumar Modi has been served a show-cause notice.

According to sources, the Khordha District Athletic Meet commenced at PM SHRI Chintamani Vidyalaya, Narangarh, on Monday, with around 180 students from different blocks of the district participating in the sporting event. Eight students from Bali Patna Adarsha Vidyalaya, including Arnab, had come to participate in the meet. On Tuesday morning, Arnab reportedly went to a pond near the school premises, where he accidentally drowned. After the incident came to light, local residents rushed to his rescue and pulled him out of the water. A few teachers subsequently took him in an ambulance to the Khordha District Headquarters Hospital. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The hospital authorities later shifted the body to the mortuary for a post-mortem examination and informed Jankia police. On receiving the information, Jankia police station inspector Chandrasekhar Jena reached the hospital and initiated an investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, Arnab’s family members and relatives rushed to the hospital after being informed about the incident by a teacher of Bali Patna Adarsha Vidyalaya. They questioned the supervision arrangements and the safety measures in place for students participating in the district-level sporting event.

The family demanded a proper investigation into the circumstances leading to the student’s death and sought appropriate action against those found responsible. The incident also raised concerns over the arrangements made for the safety and supervision of students attending sporting events outside their respective schools.
Khordha District Education Officer Sonamika Ray, along with other officials and teachers, reached the hospital following the incident.
Tension prevailed on the hospital premises for some time as family members and others expressed their anguish over the student’s death.IIC, Khordha Model PS, Ramesh Kumar Debata and SDPO ,Pankaj Kumar Majhi subsequently arrived at the spot and took steps to bring the situation under control. A scientific team also visited the site and conducted the necessary examination as part of the investigation.
On the basis of a complaint lodged by the deceased student’s mother, police registered a case. Following the post-mortem examination, the body was handed over to the bereaved family.
Khordha Tehsildar Bibhas Panigrahi also visited the hospital and provided financial assistance of Rs 30,000 to the family from the Red Cross Fund. He assured the family that assistance would be extended to facilitate access to other eligible government benefits.
Meanwhile, the District Education Officer initiated departmental action in connection with the incident. PET Sunil Panda was suspended on charges of alleged negligence in the discharge of his duties. The DEO has also written to the School and Mass Education Department, recommending the suspension of Vijay Pratap Mishra, headmaster of PM SHRI Chintamani Vidyalaya, Narangarh. District Physical Education Officer Dilip Kumar Modi has been asked to explain his position through a show-cause notice.
The circumstances under which the student reached the pond, the adequacy of supervision during the athletic meet and the responsibility of the officials concerned are expected to be examined as the police investigation and departmental proceedings progress.