Kollam, Kerala: A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded at Thevalakkara Boys High School, where 13-year-old Class 8 student Mithun was electrocuted to death after accidentally coming into contact with a live overhead power line while trying to retrieve his slipper from the rooftop of a newly constructed cycle shed.
The accident occurred during school hours when students were playing in the ground. Mithun climbed onto the corrugated metal roof using a classroom bench, attempting to recover his slipper that had fallen there. In a cruel twist of fate, he slipped and grabbed a high-voltage electric wire that ran just above the shed — resulting in an instant electric shock.
Teachers rushed to the spot and disconnected the nearby transformer fuse, while KSEB (Kerala State Electricity Board) officials shut down the feeder line. Mithun was pulled down and rushed to Sasthamcotta Taluk Hospital, but doctors could not save his life.
Shockingly, the live power line had been running dangerously close to the school for years, and the risk intensified after the construction of the shed. The school management claims it had requested KSEB to relocate the line, but KSEB denies receiving any such request — sparking a bitter blame game.
Reacting swiftly, Education Minister V. Sivankutty called the incident “deeply saddening” and ordered a high-level inquiry. He has asked the Director of Public Instruction (DPI) for an urgent report and directed local education officials to ensure campus safety protocols across Kollam district.
