Wednesday, November 13News and updates from Kashmir

‘Minor Dooru student critically wounded after falling from school bus’: Who will take responsibility?

Suhail Dar

In an unfortunate incident, a seven-year-old schoolboy was critically wounded when he met with an accident in the Dooru area of Anantnag district, prompting authorities to take action against the private school involved.

The family of the boy, Usman Ahmad Itoo, son of Imtiyaz Ahmed Itoo and a resident of Nishan area in Dooru, spoke to The Kashmiriyat and accused the school authorities of negligence, which they claim led to Usman’s serious injuries.

On October 29, Usman, who was aboard a school bus from Iqbal Memorial Institute (IMI) Dooru, fell from the moving vehicle at around 10 A.M., suffering severe injuries.

Hospital documents accessed by The Kashmiriyat confirm that Usman has sustained multiple injuries, including fractures to his pelvic bone, rectum, legs, and hip bone, all of which require serious medical attention.

Initially, Usman was taken to the hospital in Dooru, from where he was referred to Government Medical College in Anantnag. However, doctors there stated that he needed advanced treatment, requiring him to be transferred to Srinagar. Usman was later treated at SKIMS but, due to the absence of a specialized pediatric department, was referred to JVC Hospital.

Despite receiving some treatment, the boy remains in critical condition as his parents and the school are entangled in a dispute over delayed promises and unmet obligations.

Family members allege that the injury was a direct result of the school’s negligence. “The driver had no helper in the bus, despite our repeated requests to the school authorities to provide one. Our concerns were ignored,” Usman’s father stated.

He also claimed that the school authorities behaved rudely when the family sought financial assistance for Usman’s medical treatment. “They refused to pay for the treatment. How can they deny responsibility when they are supposed to ensure the safety of children during school hours?” he questioned.

The father, speaking to The Kashmiriyat, expressed his financial struggles, stating that he could not afford the costs of his child’s ongoing medical care.

In response, Altaf Hussain Tak, the chairman of IMI, strongly denied the allegations of negligence. “Our staff was with the boy throughout his transfer from Dooru to Anantnag and then to SKIMS. The parents asked our staff to leave once the boy was at SKIMS,” he explained.

Tak further stated, “The boy had been referred to JVC when our staff returned. The next day, the parents called and asked us to deposit 5 lakh rupees in their account. I later learned that they had taken Usman to a private hospital, Paras, without consulting any doctors. We never refused to help financially, but the hospital they chose is charging exorbitant amounts, even for basic services.”

The growing dispute has drawn the attention of the education department, which has initiated an inquiry into the private school’s conduct.

The Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) of Zone Dooru issued a formal letter (No. ZEO/01/Pvt/Esh/1465/24) to the Chairman and Principal of Iqbal Memorial Institute (IMI) Dooru, with a copy of the letter available to The Kashmiriyat.

The letter addresses the incident that took place 12 days ago, in which Usman sustained critical injuries.

The ZEO highlighted that family members of the injured student have accused the school of failing to provide any financial relief, despite the gravity of the situation. The letter criticizes the school’s “lackadaisical attitude” and emphasizes that, as per departmental norms, the school is responsible for covering the full cost of the child’s medical care until his recovery.

The ZEO’s letter also directs the IMI administration to submit a written explanation by November 11, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., warning of “stern action” should they continue to delay their response or fail to provide adequate assistance.

The family, devastated by the ordeal, expressed their deep anguish. “Our child is lying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life, and the very people responsible for his safety are turning their backs on us,”

Usman’s father said, his voice shaking with emotion. “How can they claim to educate children when they can’t even stand by them in their darkest hour? We trusted them with our son, and now we are left alone to pick up the pieces. No family should have to beg for help while watching their child suffer.”

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