Chandigarh: Student killed, 18 injured after tree falls on them inside school complex

CHANDIGARH: A student was killed and 18 others sustained injuries after a tree fell on them inside a school complex here on Friday, officials said. The injured, including a school staff attendant, were taken to a hospital, they said.

"The incident was reported at 11:10 am. It was an old peepal tree, a kind of heritage tree. Nineteen students and a staff attendant were injured in the incident. We have confirmation of a child's death in the incident," the official said. The students of the girls' school in Sector 9 were in the age group of 13-17 years and had gathered near the tree during lunch break when the incident occurred, officials said. A magisterial probe has been ordered into the incident, they said.

Reacting to the incident, Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher tweeted, "A very heart-wrenching incident of a tree falling at Carmel Convent School Chandigarh. My condolences to the bereaved families and I pray for a speedy recovery of the injured".

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According to eyewitnesses, there was panic in the school complex after the incident. Police and fire department officials reached the spot and the injured were taken to a government multi-speciality hospital in Sector 16, and PGIMER while some were taken to Fortis hospital in Mohali, officials said. Rajinder, whose daughter studies at the school, told reporters that parents received a phone call from the school informing them about the incident. He said his daughter is safe.

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