A 12-year-old Class 5 student at the Girls’ Middle School in Patna’s Gardani Bagh area died after being found unconscious with severe burn injuries in the school’s washroom. The incident, reported by PTI, has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about student safety in government-run schools.

According to Patna SP (Central) Diksha, police responded swiftly, rushing the girl to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), where she succumbed to her injuries. The cause of the burns remains unclear, with authorities investigating how the incident occurred and how the student accessed the washroom unnoticed. “A case has been registered, and the matter is being thoroughly investigated,” Diksha told reporters, withholding the victim’s identity.

Eyewitnesses reported smoke billowing from the washroom shortly after the girl, identified by some sources as Zoya, entered with a bottle, possibly containing kerosene. CCTV footage is being reviewed, and statements from school staff and classmates are being recorded to determine whether the incident was accidental, self-inflicted, or involved foul play. A senior police officer noted unresolved questions about how the girl accessed inflammable material on school premises.

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The tragedy triggered chaos, with the victim’s family and local residents storming the school, alleging negligence by the administration. The unrest led to vandalism of the staff room and assaults on police personnel, though the situation was later contained. The incident has fueled widespread concern about school safety, echoing calls for accountability seen in other regional crises, such as Punjab’s flood relief efforts.

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