Newborn delivered in tribal school hostel in Odisha dies, headmistress suspended

PHULBANI/BHUBANESWAR: A baby delivered by a 14-year-old girl at a tribal residential school's hostel in Odisha's Khandamal district died at a hospital where she was admitted along with her mother, officials said Monday.

The girl, a Class 8 student of the Sevashram High School in Daringibadi in the district, delivered the baby on Saturday night. On Monday, the Odisha government suspended the school's headmistress Radharani Dalei and three assistant superintendents of the institution in connection with the incident.police are also questioning six employees of the school.

The minor girl and the newborn had earlier been admitted to the Baliguda sub-divisional hospital in Kandhamal after being rescued, Kandhamal District Welfare Officer Charulata Mallick said.

Later on Sunday night, they were shifted to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur where the newborn died, hospital authorities said.

The girl is undergoing treatment at the gynaecology ward and her condition is normal, MKCG Hospital Superintendent Charana Panda said.

Kandhamal District Collector Brundha D said headmistress Dalei has been placed under suspension.

She was suspended by the state government on the recommendation of the district collector, who, on Sunday, disengaged two matrons, two cook-cum-attendants, a lady supervisor and an auxiliary nurse-midwife of the institute from service for dereliction of duty. The three assistant superintendents were also suspended by the collector, Mallick said.

Baliguda sub-collector is conducting an inquiry into the incident and he is to submit a report in 10 days.

On Sunday, police had said a third-year college student -- a resident of Takalmaha village -- was arrested in connection with the incident.

Superintendent of Police, Khandamal, Pratik Singh had said Shraban Pradhan was arrested for allegedly raping the minor girl when she had gone

to her village under Daringbadi police limits during vacation a few months back.

“As per the direction of the government we have taken

stringent steps against the errant (employees). If necessary further action will be taken,” Collector Brundha D said.