Electrocution of school student: Kerala government orders inquiry

Kerala’s General Education Minister V. Sivankutty has ordered an inquiry into the suspected accidental electrocution of a Class 8 student, Mithun, 13, at a government-aided school at Thevalakkara in Kollam district on Thursday (July 17, 2025). 

According to preliminary reports, the student died when he clambered onto the school’s awning to retrieve his footwear, which had fallen onto the roof while playing a throwing game.

Mr. Sivankutty told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that initial reports suggested the student had fatally brushed an overhead power line. 

He said he had dispatched the Director of General Education to the accident site to investigate the episode and give a detailed report. He said he had also rushed General Education officers in Kollam district to the spot.

‘Extremely distressing’

Mr. Sivankutty termed the incident “extremely distressing.” He said the government would examine whether there was any indifference on the school management’s part, which caused the tragic death. 

KSEB blamed

Meanwhile, local people told reporters on the spot that the power line was hanging loosely and almost touched the lean-to.

They accused the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) of not realigning the power line, which passed dangerously close to the school building.

Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty told reporters that he had ordered an inquiry into the incident, and it was too early in the day to state whether there was any safety lapse on KSEB’s part.

“The government hopes to get the inquiry report in a matter of hours. The incident’s cause remains sketchy”, he said.