Daijiworld Media Network - Sangli
Sangli, Jun 7: A student died after allegedly drowning in the swimming pool of Appasaheb Birnale Residential School in Sangli on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Aditya Vikas Olekar, a resident of Kokale village in Kavthe Mahankal taluk.
According to reports, Aditya was studying at the residential school and had gone to the school's swimming pool on Saturday afternoon when the incident occurred.
Following the tragedy, Aditya's parents and relatives levelled serious allegations against the school management. They claimed that the student was allowed into the swimming pool despite not knowing how to swim. The family has demanded that those responsible be booked for culpable homicide.
The school administration, however, offered a different account of the incident. According to school authorities, all students were brought to the swimming pool for a swimming session on Saturday afternoon. Officials said the instructor conducting the training had asked Aditya whether he knew how to swim before allowing him to enter the pool.
The school further stated that the accident occurred while Aditya and his friends were swimming in the pool.
After receiving information about the incident, the Sanjaynagar police launched an investigation. While preliminary findings indicate that Aditya died due to drowning, police said family members have raised certain concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police officials said all aspects of the case would be thoroughly examined and appropriate legal action would be taken based on the findings.
The incident has cast a pall of gloom over Aditya's family and his native village. It has also sparked discussions about safety measures at swimming pools in residential schools.
Police are examining CCTV footage, questioning the instructors and staff concerned, and inspecting the scene as part of the ongoing investigation.
He also cautioned that long-term consumption of food contaminated by excessive fertiliser and pesticide use could lead to the accumulation of harmful substances in the body, increasing cancer risks over time.
Health experts have called for stronger measures to improve water quality, reduce air pollution and increase public awareness to address the growing environmental health challenge in Bihar.