3-year-old girl dies after falling into hot pot of curry while cook was busy listening to music on headphones
A 3-year-old schoolgirl has died after falling into a hot pot of curry as she was not given timely medical assistance because the cook was allegedly busy listening to music on headphones.
The tragic incident took place on Monday, February 3, at a government school in Mirzapur district of the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. The young girl sustained severe burns after accidentally falling into the curry, which was sitting out in the open in a pot after being freshly prepared.
The food was prepared as part of the midday meal scheme in government schools in India, wherein school children are given a hot meal to incentivize primary education.
The incident was witnessed by the girl's brother, who screamed and tried to alert the cook. However, her father later told local media outlets that the cook had headphones on when his daughter fell into the pot and did not immediately take action to save the girl.
According to India Today, when the cooks realized what had happened under their watch, they "scurried away."
It was only when the teachers and administrative staff of the school were informed about the terrible incident that the young girl received medical assistance. By the time she was rushed to the hospital, she had already received severe injuries all over her body. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.
While officials launched a probe into the incident, Mirzapur district magistrate Sushil Kumar Patel has ordered the suspension of the principal of the school.
"The matter has come to my knowledge. I will get this investigated after getting a report from the concerned Block Education Officer. Action will be taken. I am being told that the girl was not a student of the school," the Mirzapur Basic Education Officer said.
The identity of the victim has not been released.
This is not the first such instance of bizarre death recorded in India. A three-year-old boy died from burn injuries after falling into a scalding pot of curry in the Ranga Reddy district of Telangana in November last year. It was believed that the boy was playing near the cooking area when the incident happened.