Girl dies of snakebite in classroom; HM suspended

In an unusual instance, a school headmaster was suspended from his job after a Class-IV girl student died of snakebite in her classroom in Keonjhar district.

This was reported from the Barigaon Upgraded Primary School under the Ghasipura police limits near Anandpur on Wednesday. The deceased identified as Mamali Sahoo, daughter of Pramod Sahoo of Barigaon village.

According to reports, a cobra inside an almirah in the classroom stung on the hand of Mamali during period of the class on Wednesday. The class teacher and other students in the class could not notice the incident. Mamali died in the classroom.

Source said that other students informed the school headmaster and other teachers about the tragic incident. However, they allegedly did not take the matter seriously.

Later, the students informed locals, who got Mamali admitted to the Anandpur Sub-Divisional Hospital. But the girl was declared brought dead at the hospital. Taking action against the school authorities following the incident, the Block Education Officer (BEO) placed headmaster Keshab Chandra Sahoo under suspension