Amravati: Chikhaldara police have registered a case against the hostel warden and three women cooks of a school in Navsari area of Amravati for alleged negligence leading to the death of a 17-year-old Class 11 student due to suspected food poisoning.The case was registered late Saturday night on a complaint lodged by the father of the deceased, Rajesh Bethekar (17), a resident of Karanjkheda village in Chikhaldara tehsil. He was a Class 11 (Science) student at the govt-aided school.As per the complaint, students at the hostel were served chapatis, brinjal curry, rice and peas dal for breakfast on the morning of Aug 14. After consuming the food, Rajesh, his cousin Ramprasad Bethekar and around 15 to 20 other students developed symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and abdominal pain on Aug 15.It has been alleged that the hostel warden failed to provide timely medical help even as the condition of the students deteriorated. Rajesh called his elder brother who was studying in Amravati. When the elder brother reached the school on Aug 16, he found Rajesh unwell. The warden allegedly asked the family to take the student home for three days and took a written application from them.Rajesh’s condition deteriorated further while he was being taken to his native village. Rajesh died before he could be shifted to a primary health centre. His last rites were performed on Aug 17.Rajesh’s father lodged a complaint on Aug 29, following which police initially registered a case of accidental death.On Sept 12, the body, which had been buried, was exhumed in the presence of the tehsildar and an autopsy was conducted on the spot. The report is still awaited.Acting on the directions of police inspector Pradeepkumar Patil, PSI Ishwar Jabekar registered a case against the warden and the three cooks under relevant sections for negligence. Further investigation is underway.
