Asha Honor Chapter Kumbakonam Site Visit Report

Agnipookkal

School Fire Accident, Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District

16th July, 2004

Site Visit Report

Requested by

Guha Balasubramanian

Conducted by

Sathya Priya and Dhanalakshmi

AshaHonorAcademy Fellows

Chennai, India

October9th–10th, 2006

Contents

I. Background Purpose of Site Visit

II. Reaching Kumbakonam

IIISite visit notes & observations

IVAsha Intervention Strategy

VSite visit expenses

VIAbout AshaHonorAcademy Fellows

VIIPhotos taken during site visit

VIIIFeedback

I. Background & Purpose of Site Visit

In one of the worst tragedies in the state about 94 school children were feared killed in a major fire accident in a Sri Krishna Girl’s High schoolat Kasiram Street, Dharasuram, Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. Around 900 students were present in the SriKrishnaGirlsHigh Schoolthree storage complex housing Sri Saraswathi primary school (English medium) and Sri Krishna Girl’s High School (Tamil medium).

On 16th July, 2004 (Friday)was a fateful day for many young children. The fire that broke out at about 10.50 am, a few hours after the school began, from the noon-meal kitchen situated behind the school spread fast through the thatched shed on the first floor of the school building. Ninety four children who were trapped under the roof were charred to death in a matter of few minutes.The fire is believed to have started from the kitchen, where the noon meal for nursery children was being prepared, and soon spread to a row of thatched roof classrooms where students from III to V standard were present.While the high school and middle school students escaped on noticing the fire, the nursery school children got trapped as the thatched roof collapsed on them.

It was shocked that for a school with strength of 900 students, there was one narrow entrance for Tamil medium children served as an exit.Most of the children died on-the-spot and were in the age group of eight to ten years.

The dead were 45 boys, 49 girls and 17 children escaped with fire injured (9 boys and 8 girls).Among 17 children, high degrees of burn suffered by six children (3 boys and 3 girls).

Heavy Injured Children details:

  1. Rahul- IV Std, SreemathaMatriculationSchool, Besant Road(Met the boy)
  2. Rajkumar- Native Higher Secondary School, Palakarai
  3. Vijay- Round Table school, Natham village
  4. Divya- VI Std, SreeSaraswathiPadasalaGirlsHigherSecondary School, Bathapuri street, Kumbakonam(Met the girl)
  5. Merci- IV Std, St: JosephHigherSecSchool, Kumbakonam(Met the girl)
  6. Kousalaya- IV Std,St: Joseph Higher SecSchool, Kumbakonam

Purpose:

The main purpose of the visit is to know the after effect of the incident at KumbakonamSchool. To know the real situation and background of the tragedy happened in the school. After this incident, Government initiatives and actions taken towards this school and about other children schooling.

II. Reaching Kumbakonam

Traveling by train, we left Chennai on9thOctober,Mondayat 9.30 PM and reached Kumbakonam on 10thOctober,Tuesday morning at 7.00 AM. Earlier we made arrangements with one of an organization called Deepam Trust working in the villages at Kumbakonam on land and human rights issues. The founder Mr. Zacharias and his staff member Ms. Joy Sankari came to the Kumbakonam station to receive us and accompanied throughout the visits.

III. Site visit notes & observations

Firstly we began our visit at 9.00 AMtowards theSri Krishna Girl’s High schoolat Kasiram Street, Dharasuram, Kumbakonam about 94 children were feared killed in a major fire accident. When we reached the school, immediately the first view was 94 children faces on a big board hanging in front of the school building.We were not able to go inside the school even though it was unlocked because earlier the building was sealed by the government. No one is allowed inside the building. While talking to the people staying next to the school building about the background of fire accident took place on 16th July, 2004. They referred the name Mr.Kannan knows all the details about the tragedy.

We met Mr.Kannan (father of a victim) at a tailor shop. We had meeting with him along with two more parents (Inbarasu and Rajaguru) who lost their children in school fire accident. Mr.Kannan shared most of the information about the incident, infrastructure of thatschool;children transferred schools and village details. With that information, we were able to proceed further.

School visited:

Secondly we visited all the schools were children are admitted in various classes transferred from SriKrishnaSchool. The students studied in thatschool who has survived this tragedy, the state government facilitated their transfer to other schools immediately through counseling process. Had meeting with the parents of all children on school selection to continue their education. Government officials and psychologistswere present for the meeting gave counseling to parents and list of schools to select one for their children to study.

Survived children are admitted in the following surrounding schools:

  1. SrimathaMatriculationSchool, Besant Road, Kumbakonam
  2. Karthi Vidyalaya English Medium and Nursery School,KaruppurVillage, Kumbakonam
  3. Town Higher Secondary School, THSS Road, Kumbakonam
  4. SreeSaraswathiPadasalaGirlsHigherSecondary School, Bathapuri street, Kumbakonam
  5. BaanaduraiElementary School, Banadurai, Kumbakonam

1. SrimathaMatriculationSchool, Besant Road, Kumbakonam:

We entered into the school situated in a big campus. We met the headmistress Ms. Kousalaya happily shared the information about the children admitted in that school. It was started in 1970 having up to X standard. This school is a private school following English medium. In 2004, eighty four children admitted in classes from I to V from SriKrishnaSchool. The school timings are 9.20 AM- 4.00PM. For all the eighty four children, school didn’t collect fees for that academic year, 2004. For that year alone, free education was given to all the children. SASTRADeemedUniversity, Thanjavur committed to support the survived children education.

We met Rahul studying IV in SreemathaSchooland saw the child two hands and two legs badly injured. One year, Rahul was hospitalized for surgery to recover. He is studying well.

2. Sree Saraswathi Padasala Girls Higher Secondary School, Bathapuri Street, Kumbakonam

It is a government aided school started in 1908 having classes from VI- XII. On that day, the headmistress Ms. N. Hansabegum was not present. So we met Ms.Rani, assistant happily shared all the details about the children. The school is situated in a big ground with so many trees. The school strength is 1724 following Tamil medium. The school timings are 9.20 AM - 4.20 PM.

In 2004, 115 children admitted in classes from VI to X from SriKrishnaSchool. Government fees only collected from the students. We met Divya studying VI STD in this school. Two hands, two legs, face badly injured. She was studying IV class in SriKrishnaSchool. One year, Divya was hospitalized for surgery to recover and still going for the treatment.

3. BaanaduraiElementary School, Banadurai, Kumbakonam

It is a government aided CorporationSchool started in 1921 having classes from I – V. We met the headmistress Ms.Imsaiammal shared the information about the SriKrishnaSchool children admitted in that school. The school started in 1921 having 148 students. In 2004, 43 children admitted in classes from I to V from SriKrishnaSchool. Totally four teachers included headmistress taking the classes. At present, after two years (in the year 2006) nineteen children are studying in I to III because IV and V children shifted to other schools for higher classes. The school timings are 9.30AM-4.00PM.

4. Town Higher Secondary School, THSS Road, Kumbakonam

Later, we visited this school. It is a coeducation school with good strength. It is a government school, the great Mathematician Dr.Ramanuja studied in this school. We waited for the headmaster Mr. Sowdarajan at his room for nearly half an hour. Then we met him but he refused to provide the details about the children admitted in that school. Because he said before six months, an order was passed by the Government not to share the details without getting any prior permission letter from the Education Department. So he didn’t open his mouth. We left the place.

Village’s visited:

The details shown below on number of children lost the lives in various villages at the school fire accident.

Village wise children list:

Name of the village / Number of children lost their lives
KaruppurVillage / 14
NathamVillage / 13
Palakarai / 18
Town (surrounded streets near by the school) / 34
Asur / 15
Total / 94

We visited two villages namely Natham village and Karuppur village.

NathamVillage:

The village is situated 4km from the school. In this village, 300 families were residing. Most of the children were from the families of ordinary workers – coolies in the vegetable market, rickshaw pullers etc., and living in very poor conditions. At the village, we met Selvi had five children, the last child Aishwarya (III class) died in the fire accident. Then Shanthi had two children, the last child Pavithra (III class) died and Sumathi had three children, the last boy Ramanna (IV class) died. While sharing their feelings, all the parents’ eyes were rolling with tears. The main reason was parents of13 victims from Natham had put their wards in the primary section of the cramped SaraswatiEnglishMediumSchool as it had offered a pick-up van service for Rs30 a monthperstudent.
The village — inaccessible to any public bus service because of the narrow approach road. No proper transportation to reach the schools.

We saw a pillar in the memory of all the thirteen children belong to that village lost their lives. This was built up inside the village by all the thirteen families. The pillar contains all the children names on it. At that time, the village people insisted to construct a school for other children within the village because no transportation facilities available for young ones to go to school. So Round Table constructed a school up to V class but government support to run the school and village children are studying there. Parents were psychologically affected after this tragedy. No money compensation would make them overcome this sorrow.

KaruppurVillage:

The village is situated 6km from the school. In this village, 3500 families were residing. Most of the children were from the families of ordinary workers – coolies in the vegetable market, rickshaw pullers etc., and living in very poor conditions. For some of the families felt, SriKrishnaSchool is very nearer and also coaching given was good. One of the parent said it is very near and good coaching was given. At the village, we met Merci family, one among the heavy injured children. Her parents warmly welcomed us into the house. She had joined in St: JosephHigherSecSchool in IV standard. Merci got burn injured in two hands, two legs and body. Her elder brothers also studied at SriKrishnaSchool but escaped from the fire accident. Merci mother said that earlier she was very much feared to see the fire inside the house. Now she was overcoming the situation.

Government interventions:

  1. The state government cancelled the school's license, suspended four district education officials and announced Rs 100,000 compensation for parents of dead children.
  2. First priority in Chennai that all schools with thatched structures should replace them with non-flammable material.
  3. Asked school education department to immediately take up an intensive inspection of all schools in the state to ascertain and ensure maintenance of safety standards.
  4. According to norms, such thatched roofs are not permissible, especially when there is a kitchen at such close quarters where food under the noon meal scheme is cooked. This is an act of criminal negligence to have a thatched roof at such close proximity to the kitchen. It is clear that the management of the school has not adhered to the norms”.Criminal prosecution against the school management.Eight people arrested were school correspondent Pulavar Palan-isamy aged 70, his wife Saraswathi (Principal), daughter Santhalakshmi (Headmistress), noon meal centre organiser Vijayalakshmi, Vasanthi (Ayah), Antonyammal, Mahalakshmi and Devi worked as teachers.
  5. On suspension of officials, the Chief MinisterJ.Jayalalitha said they should have inspected the school and not allowed the thatched portion to come up. "They should have seen to it that an adequate fire escape was provided. Ye
  6. In respect of the students studying in the school who have survived this tragedy, the state government facilitates their transfer to other schools immediately.
  7. Thiru K Sampath, Chairman, Enquiry Commission of the Kumbakonam School Fire accident submitted the report to the Hon'ble Chief Minister on13/7/05
  8. On the second anniversary of the accident, Thanjavur Collector C.Vijayaraj Kumar said that the State Government allotted Rs. 60 lacs for the memorial and it would be constructed on a 10,000 sq ft plot near Palakarai.

Real Impact about Government interventions:

  1. All the 94 children families received Rs.100,000 compensation from the Government and Rs.25000 for injured children.
  2. Mostly the thatched structures school replaced into inflammable materials.
  3. All schools in the Stateensured fire extinguisher for safety standards.
  4. Arrested school management people at present were came out in bail.
  5. All the children were transferred to other surrounded schools with great cooperation shown by other schools.
  6. We saw the land allotted for the memorial near Palakarai. It is situatednear market road with full of baggage damped.

People’s Involvement:

A group was formed by the affected families in six villages namely Natham village, Karuppu village, Town 1 and 2, Palakarai and Asur village.

School is under judgement for two years. Parents wanted the school place to be the memorial one because children lives ended there and struggling for it.

IVAsha Intervention Strategy

The Asha Interventioncan be in the form of providing Scholarship for the heavy injured children but in a very slow process. We found children mostly in government schools. So we can focus on heavy injured children (six children) through Scholarship support for their education.

V. Site Visit Expenses (for Sathya and Dhanalakshmi)

  1. Train Journey(2 People)Rs.808
  2. Food Expenses(4 People)Rs.350
  3. Local car charges to make visitRs.1600
  4. PhotographyRs. 400

TotalRs.3158

VI. About AshaHonorAcademy Fellows

Sathya Priya holds an MA in Social Work from StellaMarisCollege and has been a volunteer of Asha in Chennai, India for over 3 and half years. She is deeply involved in over 10 diverse Asha projects and looks forward to site visits as exciting avenues to facilitate India-wide teamwork towards UQE.

Dhanalakshmi is grass roots volunteer of Asha in Chennai, India for four years. She is very much interested in making site visits to various villages.

VII. Photos taken during site visit

VIII. Feedback:

It was a different experience I ever felt by doing various site visits. I felt very unhappy when I spoke with the parents about their children because it made them to recollect the incident. But the parents said that there is no a day without thinking their children.I was very happy to see more than 800 children transferred to other schools and the full support by the schools.

L.Dhanalakshmi

While traveling to school, I was thinking that the school building seen only in television but now going to see directly. When I saw the school with children photos of smiling faces got distributed. It was a sorrowful visit for me. Good to see the survived children are continuing their education after treatment. Parents were psychologically affected.

M.Sathya Priya