Gajapati, Ap 17: The Gajapati district administration has suspended Seto Raika, headmaster of Rubudisingh Upper Primary School, following a tragic incident in which two students lost their lives after a school gate collapsed on April 15.
The victims, Edanti Raita (9) and Beckylesh Raita (10), from Rubudisingh village under R Udayagiri police limits and studying in class IV and V respectively, were playing on the school premises when an iron gate attached to a boundary wall fell on them. They were rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital, but were declared dead on arrival. Their bodies were later sent to the District Headquarters Hospital in Paralakhemundi for post-mortem.
A case has been registered at R Udayagiri Police Station against a contractor allegedly using the school premises to store construction materials. Villagers claimed that heavy vehicle movement within the campus had weakened the boundary wall and gate structure.
Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) Chairperson Justice Satrughana Pujahari visited the site, condemned the tragedy, and assured strict action against those responsible. He also met the victims’ families and instructed authorities to evaluate unsafe school infrastructure across the district.
The incident sparked protests, with locals demanding accountability and compensation. The situation was later brought under control following intervention by local administration officials.
Expressing grief over the deaths, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered an RDC-level inquiry into the incident and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 3 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the families of the deceased.
