A 14-year-old Class VIII student at an ashramshala in Gadchiroli’s Sonsari village died by suicide in her hostel room on Monday evening, after her request to return home for Durga Puja celebrations was not accepted, police said. An inquiry is examining the circumstances surrounding her death, including the role of school staff and hostel supervision.
The student lived in the residential school in Sonsari, located in Kurkheda taluka, and was from Mohgaon, about 3km away. According to police, she called her parents on Monday and said she was unwell and had a dry cough. Her parents came to the school and took her to a hospital for treatment before returning her to the ashramshala.
After she returned, the girl repeatedly asked her parents to take her home to attend the 10-day Durga Puja celebrations in Armori, police said. Armori is around 15–20km from the school and is known for its festival gatherings and fair. A teacher reportedly advised the parents against granting leave because examinations were approaching and special preparatory classes were being held. The parents agreed to leave her at the school, according to the police account reported by the Times of India.
Police said the student appeared upset after her parents left and did not attend classes. She remained in her room while her roommates went to class. Around 5pm, the roommates returned and found the room locked from inside. After their knocks went unanswered, they informed the warden and hostel staff, who opened the door and found the student unresponsive.
During the investigation, police found a drawing in the girl’s notebook depicting a girl in distress, along with a handwritten sentence indicating indifference towards death. Police are examining the material as part of their effort to understand the student’s state of mind. Senior inspector Ajay Jagtap of Kurkheda police station said no suicide note had been found.
The school authorities informed the police and the girl’s parents after the incident. A team from Kurkheda police station is questioning her roommates, teachers and hostel staff, while investigators are collecting evidence and speaking with people who knew the student. Gadchiroli superintendent of police M Ramesh said the inquiry would examine the circumstances surrounding the death and the available evidence.
An accidental death report is being registered, police said, and an autopsy is being conducted at Gadchiroli district hospital. The investigation will establish the sequence of events and whether any institutional or other factors contributed to the student’s death.
