Tragic Incident at Ujjain School: Student Found Dead, Search for Missing Classmate Ongoing
Incident Overview
Representational Image
Ujjain, July 14: A tragic event unfolded in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district when the body of a 15-year-old student from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya was discovered in a pond near the school on Tuesday. Efforts are still underway to locate another student who went missing alongside him from the hostel, according to police reports.
The deceased has been identified as Pragyan Vimal, a Class 10 student, while Roshan Baretha, a 14-year-old Class 9 student, remains unaccounted for as of Tuesday afternoon.
Authorities stated that both boys vanished from the hostel of the residential school in the Ghattia police station area late Monday night. Their absence was noted during the night attendance check, prompting the school administration to alert the police.
A police team promptly arrived at the school and initiated a search operation.
Investigators reviewed CCTV footage and interviewed other students, but the missing boys could not be located that night.
“Upon receiving the report from the school, we immediately commenced a search operation. We are analyzing CCTV footage and exploring all possible leads. The full details will emerge once the investigation concludes,” stated Karan Khowal, in-charge of Ghattia police station, during a press briefing.
At approximately 6 a.m. on Tuesday, local residents notified the police after discovering a body floating in a pond, which is an agricultural pit adjacent to the school grounds.
The body was recovered with assistance from villagers and later confirmed to be that of Pragyan Vimal.
The police have sent the body for a post-mortem examination at the district hospital and have filed a case. Officials indicated that the precise cause of death will be determined following the post-mortem report.
Meanwhile, teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police, and divers are actively searching the pond and its vicinity for the missing student.
“The search for the second student continues with the support of SDRF personnel and local divers. Further actions will be based on the findings of the post-mortem report and ongoing investigation. Should any negligence by the school management be identified, legal measures will be pursued against those accountable,” Khowal added.
This incident has sparked concerns regarding the safety protocols at the fully residential school, with family members and local residents expressing worries about the supervision and security measures in place at the hostel during the night.