The construction of a cycle shed with a tin roof dangerously close to an overhead power line running above the school ground led to the death of 13-year-old Mithun in Kollam on Thursday. The shed had been built against the wall of a school building that faces the playground in Thevalakkara Boys' School. While the power line had been in place for years at the CPM-run school, the shed brought the line alarmingly close to its roof.

Students could access the shed from inside the classroom. Mithun reportedly used a bench to climb out through a window to retrieve his slipper from the tin roof. In the process, he slipped and came into contact with the power line.

There is a window above the classroom blackboard that is usually covered with a wooden panel. According to CCTV visuals, Mithun removed the panel before climbing out. The incident occurred around 8.30 am, while teachers were already on campus. Although Mithun was given first aid and rushed to the hospital, he could not be saved. School authorities reportedly found him lying in contact with the live wire.

“The accident occurred behind the school, near the road. The power line has been there for years, but the shed, built recently, brought it too close. That’s what caused the tragedy,” a former student told the media.

“KSEB should have taken necessary action. Since the line was behind the school, the panchayat was unaware of it. There’s about 20 feet of clearance from the ground, but the tin roof was built too close. The school claims they had informed KSEB,” said Mynagappally panchayat president Varghese Tharakan.

“There should have been more caution while laying the sheet. This is a tragic incident,” said Thevalakkara panchayat member Lally Babu.

The KSEB Executive Engineer said the power line had been in place for 40 years and that safety measures were taken to prevent it from sagging. However, the shed had been constructed eight years ago without KSEB’s approval. The school had blocked access to the shed by sealing the classroom window with a wooden panel.

KSEB officials added that just two days ago, an assistant engineer had flagged the shed as a hazard and suggested replacing the wire with an insulated cable.
Graphical representation of the accident