Civic school accident in Navi Mumbai: NMMC offers Rs5L to boy’s kin

On Friday, Saurabh Chaudhary and his friends were playing on the premises of the newly built civic school at Kopar Khairane when the school gate fell on him.

Three days after a 12-year-old boy died because of a civic school gate falling on him, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) chief Ramaswamy N announced a compensation of ₹5 lakh for his family and also suspended two civic officials.

The school in Kopar Khairane where the gate fell on the boy. (HT File)

On Friday, Saurabh Chaudhary and his friends were playing on the premises of the newly built civic school at Kopar Khairane. The ball kept going out and while closing the sliding iron gate, it fell on them. While Chaudhary died, his friend Nilesh Devre, 14, fractured his leg. He was admitted to a private hospital. Chaudhary lived in Bonkode, Kopar Khairane. He was going to join Class 5 in the new academic year.

“We have issued a notice to the contractor and architect of the school. Civic officials responsible for the school work, deputy engineer Santosh Unvane and junior engineer Abhay Gavit have been suspended,” Ramaswamy said while visiting the school. “Saurabh’s family will be given a compensation of ₹5 lakh. Devre’s hospital expenses will be borne by the NMMC.” A structural audit by IIT has been ordered to ensure the building is fit for use.