Committee starts probe into Akkriti's death

New Delhi, Apr 25 (PTI) A committee appointed by Delhi
Government today began a probe to ascertain whether the death
of Akkriti Bhatia, a student of a prominent city school,
occurred due to "negligence" by school authorities.

The inquiry committee, headed by Regional Director of
Education Sunita S Koshik, visited the Modern School, Vasant
Vihar, and spoke to the teachers and authorities about the
entire incident of Monday.

Akkriti's death after an asthma attack has created a
controversy with her parents alleging that she died due to
"negligence" by the school authorities.

The team has been given the mandate to find out whether
there were any lapses on the part of the school authorities,
leading to the death of Akkriti.

The autopsy report has said that she died due to asthma
attack.

"Today the team visited the school and spoke to the
school authorities, teachers and others. They will study the
circumstances that led to the incident and that whether the
school has adequate facility to respond to emergency cases," a
senior Delhi Government official told PTI.

Delhi government rules say that schools should have a
medical officer for the welfare of students, the official
said.

The Delhi government on Thursday set up the probe into
the incident following protests by parents and students. The
committee will submit its report withing 15 days.

The management of the school has also set up an external
committee to probe the incident and suggest measures to check
any such mishap in future.

The committee comprises eminent personalities and
academicians, Managing Trustee of the school Ashok Pratap
Singh said.

The parents of Akkriti yesterday met Delhi Education
Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely and sought action against the
school principal Goldie Malhotra. Union Minister for Women and
Child Development Renuka Choudhary yesterday said that "heads
should roll" on the issue.

When contacted, Malhotra said she did not want to make
any comment. "I do not want to say anything as the probe is
underway," she said.

The Education Department has also asked the school
authorities to file a detailed report about the incident by
Monday.

Meanwhile, a function, which supposed to be held Saturday
in the school, has been deferred in view of the protest by
students and parents on the issue. The school teachers would
hold a condolence meeting on Monday. PTI BKM