Parks and schools turn death traps for children in Bengaluru

Karnataka Child Rights Commission raising questions about child safety in parks and schools in the city. After the recent incident, the school has been locked temporarily. 

After the recent incident of a child's death in a school caused by the fall of a playing equipment poll and another six-year-old child's death at Bengaluru's famous park Lal Bagh due to a stone sculpture fall, questions are being raised by Karnataka Child Rights Commission about child safety in parks and schools in the city.

The commission has already served notices to horticulture department to follow safety guidelines at Lal Bagh and Cubbon Park after two deaths were reported. One child died after it was attacked by a swarm of honey bees and another died after a stone slab fell on him while the child was posing for a photo.

And now, the notices have been served to block education officer and school authorities in connection with a three and half year old child's death after a poll fell on him while playing with an school equipment.

"We are talking to the parents to take them into confidence to get justice for the child. Right now, they are very disturbed and do not want to meet anyone," said Kripa Amar Alva, Chairperson, Karnataka Child Rights Commission.

The School principal Gajalakshmi is also feeling the heat of the situation and is refusing to make any comment. When contacted she said,"Please do not ask me any questions, I am equally disturbed by the incident." 

The school has been locked, and a notice has been posted declaring that it will reopen on February 8.

Swamy, the victim's father a security supervisor at a private company has taken his wife to his native place in Chamrajnagar as she is depressed. The victim, Harshit was the only child of this couple.

Ramu-T, Swamy's neighbour, says, these days even schools are not safe for children. "A few days back in KG Halli police station a girl studying in the nursery was attacked by her classmate, and now a boy died at the school. The child safety lies with school authorities when they are on the premises. If schools cannot give security to the child, on what guarantee we should send our kids to schools."

Despite several attempts to reach the education commissioner Jaffer, he did not respond. However, Seshadripuram police have registered a case of negligence against the school authorities.