By Matters India Reporter

Chandigarh, July 8, 2022: A tenth grader died and around 20 other students were wounded July 8 when a tree fell on them inside the campus of Carmel Convent School in Chandigarh, northern India.

The accident took place during lunch time in the school. Many children were playing near the huge 270-year-old tree when suddenly it fell on the children.

The school is located in Sector 9 area of the Union Territory that functions as the capital of Punjab and Haryana states.

The wounded students have been taken to a government hospital for treatment.

Nitin Yadav, Home Secretary, Chandigarh Administration, the wounded include 19 children and one school staff. “Two of the injured are hospitalized under serious condition. We have given orders for a probe to find out the cause of the accident,” he added.

The historic tree was reportedly guarded by the Union Territory’s administration.

Chandigarh’s Member of Parliament Kirron Kher expressed grief over the incident and said on Twitter, “A very heart-wrenching incident of a tree falling at Carmel Covent School Chandigarh. My condolences to the bereaved families and I pray for a speedy recovery of the injured.”

Chandigarh has experienced moderate to heavy rainfall in the past week.

Chandigarh District Magistrate has a probe into the incident directed the probe team to to submit a report within one week.

The probe will be conducted by Chandigarh’s Sub Divisional Magistrate (Central), Executive Engineer (Horticulture) and Range Forest Officer from the Chandigarh Forest Department.

Meanwhile Bishop Ignatius Mascarenhas of Simla-Chandigarh has sought prayers for the deceased student and the wounded. The prelate’s message to his people says he has visited the school and met the principal, Apostolic Carmel Sister Supreetha, and others.

“I could see the terror, anxiety there,” Bishop Mascarenhas says.

He says one woman bus conductor is in serious condition and taken to Fortis Hospital in the city along with three others.

The wounded include the daughter of a workers of the diocesan pastoral center.

“Our priests have rushed to the hospital. I don’t know the condition of his daughter,” the message says.

The bishop also urges school and parish authorities to check the trees in their campuses and get them pruned after obtaining permission from the concerned authorities. “We have done it here in our compound,” he says.

Although the trees could look fine from outside, some could be hollow within and fall any time, he warns.

“There was no wind today and the atmosphere is very clear,” the bishop says.