Akkriti case: Modern School shut for two days

Rocked by protests over the death of a girl student due to an asthma attack in the school premises, a leading private school in the capital has announced that it will remain closed today and tomorrow. The Modern School, Vasant Vihar, on Thursday faced protest by angry parents and students who alleged "negligence" on the part of school authorities leading to the death of 17-year-old Akkriti Bhatia. See graphic

Rocked by protests over the death of a girl student due to an asthma attack in the school premises, a leading private school has announced that it will remain closed today and tomorrow.

The Modern School, Vasant Vihar, on Thursday faced protest by angry parents and students who alleged "negligence" on the part of school authorities leading to the death of 17-year-old Akruti Bhatia.

Managing trustee of the Modern School, Vasant Vihar, Ashok Pratap Singh said the school will remain close for two days due to protests.

"Although the school remains closed on Saturday but in view of a scheduled function tomorrow, it was to remain open. Now in view of the protests, we have called off the function," he told PTI.

He said the school management has decided to set up an external inquiry committee comprising eminent academicians and noted personalities to look into the allegations of negligence.

On Thursday, the school authorities had said it would set up an internal inquiry into the death of Akruti, who died on her way to hospital on Monday.

The parents and students had gheraoed principal Goldie Malhotra and shouted slogans, blaming her for the death of the teenaged girl.

Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely ordered an inquiry into the death of the girl and said action would be taken based on the probe report.

Akruti's father Bipin Bhatia demanded immediate removal of the principal.

A senior official of the Education Department said the school authorities have been asked to file a detailed report about the incident within three days.