Chandigarh – Around 70-feet tall and 250 years old heritage tree today fell at the Carmel Convent School Sector 9 Chandigarh injuring number of students.
According to information , one girl Heerakhi of class 10 died in the unfortunate incident. The parents of the victim student are coming back from Shimla as they had gone there two days back. Sources say , Heerashi was declared brought dead when she was rushed to PGI.
All injured students and staff members in the incident have been rushed to government hospital in Sector 16 hospital, PGI, Sector 32 hospital, Fortis as they sustained injuries.
Sources added that the condition of a student and a lady conductor is also said to be critical.
It is pertinent to mention here that about 70-feet tall and 250 years old tree, was a heritage peepul tree that was protected by the administration of the Union Territory.
Medical teams and police rushed to the spot after getting the information. UT officials reached the school to take stock of the situation and sources said many parents reached the school after getting the information.
UT administration statement on Carmel Convent School tragic incident states that19 students and a female attendant (40 years) were reported injured during this incident.One student (16years) was immediately rushed to PGIMER wherein she was declared brought dead.
It further states that A committee of the officials from Municipal Corporation, Forest Department, Horticulture Wing has been constituted to visit the schools and other education institutions and inspect the trees in and around the premises to avoid any such incident in the future.
UT District Magistrate has orders a magisterial level inquiry into the incident.
Deeply distressed to hear about the accident in a private school in Chandigarh. An innocent child lost his life while several are injured.
I extend my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased child & also pray for the speedy recovery of those injured.
— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) July 8, 2022
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has extended his condolences to the family which has lost their child and prayed for speedy recovery to the injured in the incident. Mann has posted this message on his Twitter account.
A very heart-wrenching incident of a tree falling at Carmel Covent School Chandigarh. My condolences to the bereaved families and I pray for a speedy recovery of the injured. pic.twitter.com/kXJMu6idTY
— Kirron Kher (@KirronKherBJP) July 8, 2022
BJP MP from Chandigarh , Kirron Kher also conveyed condolence message on her Twitter account.
I am deeply shocked over the mishap in a school in Chandigarh. Prayers for the safety and well being of all children.
— Bandaru Dattatreya (@Dattatreya) July 8, 2022
The Governor of Haryana, Bandaru Dattatreya also took on his twitter account and expressed shock over the mishap.
Kujinder Singh Sra , a senior Advocate of Punjab and Haryana High Court and General Secretary of Resident Welfare Society Sector 33B states “FIR should be registered against the school mangement and a compensation of 10 crores should be given to the victim family which has lost child in the incident”. He further said an independent inquiry should be conducted in the incident as its a very serious matter as the safety of children life within the school premises is concerned.
