Shocking! girl lift death: 'School violates all norms'

Hyderabad, Nov 17: In a shocking incident, a five-year-old girl died after being stuck in a lift in a private school here on Tuesday, police said.

Syeda Zainab Fatima Jafrey, a student of Class 1, was going to her class room on the third floor when she got stuck between the lift doors and died.

The incident took place at Sri Chaitanya Star Kids School in Gaddianaram under the jurisdiction of Malakpet police station.

There were different versions as to how the girl got stuck in the lift. According to one version, the girl slipped and got stuck between the doors.

Police said they were investigating to find out how exactly it happened. The principal and some other staff members were detained for questioning.

Tension prevailed at the school as the victim's parents and family members staged a protest, demanding action against the school management for their negligence.

Senior police officials rushed to the spot and controlled the situation.

Meanwhile, taking up the case suo motu, State Commission for Protection of Child Rights issued notice to the Hyderabad district collector and the district education officer, seeking reports on the incident before November 30.

Commission member Achyuta Rao said that the officials have been asked to file a criminal case against the school management for its negligence.

He said the school was illegally operating the lift as primary schools were not supposed to have lifts.

"As per law, they have to conduct the classes on the ground floor," he said.

Rao said the school was being run in violation of all norms as it was functioning in a residential building and lacked any safety measure.

IANS