Palghar (Maharashtra) [India], November 17 (HBTV): A 12-year-old sixth-grade student died after she was allegedly made to perform 100 sit-ups as punishment for arriving late to school in Vasai, Palghar, Maharashtra.
A case of accidental death has been registered at the Sir JJ Marg Police Station in Mumbai, and the matter has been transferred to the Waliv Police Station for further investigation.
On November 8, Kajal and several other students who arrived late were instructed by their teacher to perform sit-ups while carrying their school bags on their shoulders. After returning home, Kajal suddenly fell ill. As her condition deteriorated, her family took her to a local hospital, where doctors later referred her to JJ Hospital in Mumbai. Kajal Gond passed away during treatment.
According to her mother, Sheela Gaud, Kajal had complained of pain after being punished, and her condition worsened over time, ultimately leading to her death. She said the children at the school had performed varying repetitions of sit-ups—100, 50 and 60—and Kajal followed the same routine as her classmates.
Gaud said: ‘My daughter didn’t tell me, but whatever the children said—some said 100, some 50, some 60—she did it. She said, I did as much as everyone else did. When my daughter came from school at 5 in the evening, she said, Mummy, my back is aching. She said, I’m a little late. It may be 2 minutes or 3 minutes, not more than that. She made me sit on a stool because I was so late. Since then, my daughter’s problems increased. Today, my daughter is no more.’
Doctors at JJ Hospital informed the family that Kajal had asthma, and performing sit-ups while carrying the additional weight of her bag caused internal bleeding, which ultimately led to her death. (ANI)