NHRC takes cognizance of deaths of two girls in Gajapati school gate collapse

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of the deaths of two girl students in Gajapati district after an iron gate of a govt primary school collapsed on them on April 15.The commission issued notices to the Odisha chief secretary and Gajapati superintendent of police, seeking a detailed report within two weeks.The incident took place at Govt Primary School in Rubudisingh under Nuagada block after classes ended, when the two girls were playing near the entrance gate.The victims were identified as 10-year-old Beckylesh Raita, a Class V student, and 9-year-old Idanti Raita, a Class IV student. Both were from the same village. After the gate collapsed, locals pulled them from under the debris and took them to a nearby hospital, where they were declared dead.The deaths triggered tension in the area, with villagers assembling at the school and demanding compensation. Police and local administrative officials later brought the situation under control.Soon after the incident, the local tehsildar and block education officer reached the spot. CM Mohan Charan Majhi ordered an RDC-level inquiry and announced ex-gratia assistance of Rs 3 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the families of the two children.