Boys’ drowning: 3 JNV staff suspended for negligence

Koraput: A day after three Class X students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) at Landiguda in Koraput district drowned in the Kolab reservoir behind the school campus, three staff members were suspended on Sunday.

School principal Milani Mitra said the Delhi office of Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) placed physics teacher Chaman Kumar, physical education teacher Rahul Singh and hostel in-charge Ishwar Khara under suspension. “An investigation into the incident is currently underway and strict action will be taken against those found responsible,” she said.


The tragedy took place between 3 pm and 3.30 pm on Saturday when a group of hostel boarders went to the nearby Kolab reservoir after appearing for their final CBSE Class X board examination. The students had reportedly gone for a bath and relax as the backwaters of the reservoir lie close to the school premises.

The principal said parents had been repeatedly advised to collect their children by 1.30 pm on the final day of examinations. However, the seven students who later went to the reservoir had informed their parents that they would leave the school campus the following day.

“They celebrated Holi using colours brought by their parents. Later, without informing anyone, they went to the reservoir for a bath. As they did not know how to swim, they slipped into deep water and drowned,” Mitra said.

The deceased were identified as Lingaraj Khilo of Koraput, Swastik Sundar Halwa of Laxmipur and Om Prakash Halwa of Lamtaput.