Student dies after electrocution in Dhaka school

He dies after accidentally coming into contact with a live wire while handling a steel pipe used to hoist the national flag

A student has died after being electrocuted at Palashpur Ideal School in Dhaka's Kadamtali area.

The incident occurred while the ninth grader was setting up the national flag on the school premises around 10 am on Wednesday.

The victim, 15-year-old Sifat Riyan, was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital by the school's caretaker, Rashed Khan, where he was declared dead by the attending physician.

Recounting the incident, Rashed said a support staff member, Parveen, was attempting to hoist the national flag and the rope became entangled around a steel pipe.

"Riyan went to help and he removed the steel pipe to free the rope. But as he was repositioning the pipe, it accidentally came into contact with a high-voltage electric wire. Riyan was electrocuted and fell unconscious."

Following the incident, Riyan was initially rushed to Desh Bangla Hospital and then transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 11:45am, Rashed added.

His body was kept at the hospital morgue, according to ASI Md Masud Mia from the DMCH Police Outpost.

Upon receiving the news of incident, Riyan’s family hurried to the hospital. Raihan Mia, his brother-in-law, expressed outrage over the incident, deeming it "totally unacceptable".

He criticised the school's lack of caution regarding the nearby high-voltage electric wires and demanded accountability from the school authorities and justice for the family.

Riyan was the son of autorickshaw driver Md Farook Mia. His family hailed from Bangram village in Mymensingh’s Trishal.