The correspondent of Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School & Jr College (PSBBSS), where nine-year-old Ranjan died following a swimming class, was on Friday arrested by police on charges of causing death by negligence.
PSBBSS correspondent Sheila Rajendran, who also held the posts of deputy dean and director of the school, became the sixth person to be arrested in connection with the incident. Sheila was placed under arrest and produced before a Magistrate. Earlier in the day, Ranjan’s family cremated his body as a pall of gloom descended on the neighbourhood in Alwarthirunagar. Former deputy chief minister MK Stalin and ex-mayor M Subramaniam were among those who paid last respects.
Meanwhile, police visited the school and asked the management not to use the swimming pool until the probe is over.
Comments(11)
This is gross negligence on the part of the school. They should have proper trainers to handle the swimming pool. Otherwise they should have not opened the facility without the expersite;innocent life is lost. The culprits should be punished strenly.
Posted by viki at 08/18/2012 13:16 Reply to this Report abuse
The school has the swimming lessons for the students for the past 25 years. This lone incident is unfortunate and the cause is still not known fully and we need to wait till the postmortem report is out. There is no point in reacting emotionally on this. The school is a top school in India and does not take any chance in safety measures.
Posted by Giri at 08/18/2012 13:37 Reply to this Report abuse
No sooner the correspondent is arrested she is on bail not only she the others arrested are also let free on bail. This arrest is an eye wash as one of the readers commented the authorities can not touch the Brahmins who are running this PSBB school business. We were under the impression that Amma is considered among present day politicians as very strict and straightforward, how can her Police charge the above culprits with minor charges. Hope justice prevails in this case and justice is done to Ranjan's bereaved family.
Posted by KSSR Iyer at 08/18/2012 14:10 Reply to this Report abuse
As unfortunate as this is, where does caste come into the picture? "This arrest is an eye wash as one of the readers commented the authorities can not touch the Brahmins who are running this PSBB school business." - Comments like this perpetuate communal attitudes and are made with the sole purpose to create pandemonium over something completely on a tangent from the real issue.
Posted by Monica Hariharan at 08/22/2012 14:51 Reply to this Report abuse
Mr. KSSR Iyer: What is justice from your point of view? The school has reputed name and best facilities for last 6 decades. This is a first time such a incident is happening, this is most unfortunate and we all extend our sympathy to Ranjan and his family. However this should not used as a political turnover and we do not know the full cause of the incident. The school has taken the necessary steps of precaution, this is most unfortunate incident. Saying thus the school has not hidden behind and have taken full responsibility, unlike other folks in similar incident.
Posted by Arjun at 08/20/2012 12:23 Reply to this Report abuse
Giri"There is no point in reacting emotionally on this"? a small child life is lost..how else will public react? it is very very painful to see this...
Posted by veda at 08/18/2012 14:28 Reply to this Report abuse
The school is one of the leading institutions in Chennai.It cannot be labelled as an elitist school since the majority of students belong to the middle class.There is severe competition among the privately run schools and schools offer several extra curricular activities for the students although charging heavily.One of the arrested persons is termed as a contractor.What role has a contractor to play in the managementof the pool unless the swimming classes have been outsourced to a third party.The Govt.should insisist that schools should carry out periodical medical tests to students who take part in activities like football,basketball cricket gymnastics to keep track of thier medical status.The final report both investigative and medical will throw light on the issue whether therehas been negligence on the part of the school/trainers and accordingly actionhas to be taken.It is unfortunate that a young kid's life has been lost.and onecan understand the anguish the family is undergoing
Posted by Venkataraman M.S. at 08/18/2012 20:41 Reply to this Report abuse
I know about this school for the last 6 years very well since my Grand dughter is studying in this school in 3rd std. This is one of the best school available for the middle class people in Chennai with all extra carricular activities and the fees they charge is nominal. where some other school with no facilities , charge more and the coaching is no way good. This school is having one period of swimming class from 3rd std. , to 8th standard and they have five people in and around the swimming pool in addition their class teacher. I know they are taking care of the students very well and if any student is ill or he does not want to attend swimming class, the teacher gives the permisson. pl. note that this is the first incident happened and with out knowing the full details the people out side and media are spreading falls roumer purposely. . Gurumoorthy
Posted by K.Gurumoorthy at 08/19/2012 05:12 Reply to this Report abuse
The most important issue here is safety of school kids. Apart from teachers there should be a full time lifeguard who should be seated on top of a high raised seat to view from top. Another issue with psbb kknagar is the very loud noise created by the school. They turn on the mike for all events which is few yards from the pool. Even if the child was shouting for help the swimming teachers could not have heard this. Investigation should be made with local neighbours to check on the noise pollution the school makes..
Posted by Viji at 08/23/2012 20:13 Reply to this Report abuse