Kerala teen electrocuted at school; mother working in Kuwait yet to learn of son’s death

Dubai: In a tragic incident, a 13-year-old boy was electrocuted while trying to retrieve his footwear from the school’s rooftop in Kerala on Thursday.

Just before classes began at the state-supported Boys School in Thevalakkara in Kollam schoolchildren were playing on the ground when the footwear of one of them got stuck on a rooftop. An electric line passed over the same roof where the slipper had landed.

Mithun, a Class 8 student, climbed onto the top of the roof but reportedly slipped and came in contact with a live electric wire. Despite best efforts to save him, the boy succumbed to his injuries, according to IANS news service.

The boy had joined the school only a month ago, according to Onmanorama. He had transferred from Pattakadavu School as part of his high school admission this academic year.

However, on the day of the incident, his father, Manu, dropped him off on a scooter. His mother, Suja, who has been working as a home nurse in Kuwait for the past three months, had spoken to both Manu and Mithun over the phone earlier that morning before leaving for work.

Relatives said Suja is yet to be informed of her son’s death. The family she works for in Kuwait had taken her on a trip to Turkey, and efforts to contact her have been unsuccessful so far, Onmanorama said. State Education Minister V. Sivankutty called it a “sad day,” adding: “We have lost one son of ours.”

He has ordered the top education official to visit the school and submit a report. “Definitely, there will be action against those who failed to do their duty,” he said.

“All state-run schools must submit a fitness certificate before the academic year opens. We will check whether this school had it,” Sivankutty added.

Local legislator Kovoor Kunjumon echoed the sentiment, vowing appropriate action against anyone found negligent. State Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty also said he has instructed the Chief Electrical Inspec-tor to prepare a report.

Meanwhile, the school staff remain in shock over the boy’s death.

Shaji Thomas, the Executive Engineer at the site, claimed the Electricity Board bore no fault. “This line has been in place for the past four decades. The shed was built eight years ago. Two days back, our Assistant Engineer offered to relocate the line. The school said they would get clearance from the management. The open shed access is the school’s responsibility,” Thomas said.