The Kerala government has announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh to the family of Mithun, an 8th-grade student of Thevalakkara Boys High School in Kollam, who died after being electrocuted on the school premises. The decision was taken at the state cabinet meeting, and the aid will be disbursed from the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).
The tragedy occurred on July 17 when Mithun accidentally came into contact with a high-voltage power line while trying to retrieve a shoe from the roof of the school’s bicycle shed during a break. His untimely death sent shockwaves across the state and triggered widespread demands for stricter safety protocols in educational institutions.
Additional financial support has been extended by various agencies: ₹3 lakh from the Public Education Director’s account, ₹5 lakh from the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), and ₹10 lakh each pledged by the school management and the Kerala School Teachers’ Association (KSTEA). The Education Department has also committed to building a new home for Mithun’s family through the Scouts and Guides.
Following a probe into the incident, Education Minister V. Sivankutty confirmed that the school management was removed due to serious lapses in safety. The school’s administration has now been transferred to the Kollam District Education Office. Officials found that the school management had violated key safety regulations under the Kerala Education Rules, and their explanation was deemed unsatisfactory.
Mithun’s death has become a rallying cry for immediate reforms in school infrastructure and accountability in Kerala, as the government promises stronger measures to ensure student safety in all educational institutions.
