Child Death Sparks Safety Concerns Over Karnataka Tribal Schools

A young girl lost her life after an old compound wall and gate collapsed at a tribal welfare school in the village of Basvanahalli, Kodagu district. The child, identified as Apurva, was waiting near the gate for her sister when the structure fell, delivering a heavy blow to her head.

The school, run by the state’s Integrated Tribal Development Project, hosts around 200 students. The family has accused school authorities and the tribal welfare department of negligence, claiming the gate had been rusted and the wall posed a known danger for some time.

The incident has raised serious questions about the safety protocols applied to government‑run tribal schools in the region. Parents and local groups are urging the department to conduct a thorough safety audit and to replace or repair any unsafe structures without delay.

Police investigations are underway, and community leaders have called for stricter oversight to protect children from similar hazards in the future.