A 14-year-old Class VIII student at an ashramshala in Sonsari village, Gadchiroli, died in her hostel room on Monday evening, with police investigating the circumstances surrounding her death after she was reportedly denied leave to attend Durga Puja celebrations in Armori.
The student was a resident of Mohgaon, around 3km from the ashramshala in Kurkheda taluka. According to police, she had called her parents earlier on Monday saying that she was unwell and had a dry cough. Her parents took her to a hospital and later brought her back to the school.
After returning to the ashramshala, the girl repeatedly asked her parents to take her home for the 10-day Durga Puja celebrations in Armori, located around 15-20km from the school. Police said a teacher advised the parents against granting leave because examinations were approaching and special classes were being conducted. The parents then agreed to leave her at the school, police said.
The girl subsequently did not attend classes and remained in her room, according to the police account. At around 5pm, her roommates returned to the hostel and found the room locked from inside. They alerted the warden and hostel staff, who opened the door and found her unresponsive. The authorities informed the police and her parents.
During the investigation, police found a sketch in the girl’s notebook that they are examining as part of their effort to understand her state of mind. Police said no clear additional clue had emerged and that no suicide note had been found.
A team from Kurkheda police station is questioning the student’s roommates, teachers and hostel staff. Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police M Ramesh said the team was collecting evidence and speaking to school authorities and others who knew the student. Senior Inspector Ajay Jagtap said an accidental death report was being registered.
The case has placed the functioning of the residential school and hostel under police scrutiny, including the sequence of events before the student’s death and the response of school staff after her room was found locked. An autopsy is being conducted at Gadchiroli district hospital, while the police inquiry continues.
