Blind school head, staffer suspended

CUTTACK: The district administration suspended headmistress Minati Routray and attendant Nalini Swain of Utkal Balashram School, a government-run residential school for blind students at Khapuria, after body of a missing student was recovered from a pond on the school premises on Monday.
The deceased, Bhagirathi Das of Bhadrak, was studying in Class IX. He went missing from the school on Sunday afternoon.
Family alleged the mishap happened due to negligence of the school authorities. "I got a call from the authorities on Sunday, informing that my son was missing. I saw his body on reaching the school," said Bhagirathi's father G C Das.
Locals alleged there was no fencing around the pond. "It seems the child by mistake entered the pond and got drowned. Since the school is meant for blind students, adequate measures should have been taken to ensure their safety," said Girish Senapati, a resident.
"An inquiry has also been ordered. If the school staff are found guilty, they would be dismissed," said ADM Lakshmidhar Mohanty.