Probe into school lab blast sought

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 18

Theog MLA and senior CPM leader Rakesh Singha today demanded a judicial inquiry into the blast in the chemistry laboratory of Government Senior Secondary School, Matiana, on Monday.

Four students, including a girl, who were undertaking practical examination, were hurt grievously in the blast.

Singha sought an immediate relief of Rs 50,000 to each of the two blast victims, Ajeet and Mukul Panchta, who were still in a critical condition at the PGI, Chandigarh, and Rs 15,000 each for two others, Bunty Sharma and Nikita Verma, who were discharged from the IGMC, Shimla, today.

He said the school students were deprived of a chemistry teacher for 23 days from 16 May, 2018 to June 7, 2018. “The Secretary, Education, must be penalised for such a serious lapse,” he demanded.

In a letter to Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, he said, “The inquiry report must not only identify the cause of the blast, but also lay down mandatory principles, which must be binding even on the government so that such incidents do not recur,” he said.

Govt to bear treatment cost

• The government will bear the expenses of the treatment of Class XII students who were injured in an explosion caused by wrong mixing of chemicals in the chemistry lab of Government Senior Secondary School, Matyana (Shimla), Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said.
• Two students, who sustained minor injuries, had been discharged from the IGMC while the other two had been referred to the PGI, Chandigarh.